Using SQL*Loader to Reorganize Oracle Tables Don Burleson

The skip_index_maintenance SQL*Loader parameter allows you to bypass index maintenance when performing parallel build data loads into Oracle, but only when using the sqlldr direct=y direct load options.

According to the book "Advanced Oracle Utilities" using skip_index_maintenance=true means "don't rebuild indexes", and it will greatly speed-up sqlldr data loads when using parallel processes with sqlldr.  See this page for skip_index_maintenance details.

Also, according to Oracle expert Jonathan Gennick, skip_index_maintenance has some limitations:

The skip_index_maintenance SQL*Loader parameter: "Controls whether or not index maintenance is done for a direct path load.

This parameter does not apply to conventional path loads. A value of TRUE causes index maintenance to be skipped.

Any index segments (partitions) that should have been updated will be marked as unusable.

A value of FALSE causes indexes to be maintained as they normally would be. The default is FALSE."

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