The fastload operation loads data from an unformatted (binary) file into a single table in a single database. It loads each contiguous n bytes of data into a new row in the target table. It is roughly the equivalent of COPY table() FROM 'file'.

Fastload is "fast" because it reads the data file directly into the bulk-copy mechanism, bypassing all of the normal Ingres client-server communications protocols. Fastload must be run on the same computer that hosts the Ingres installation; it cannot be run over an Ingres Net connection.

The fastload operation can be performed using the fastload command (see the Command Reference Guide) or in VDBA using the Fastload Table dialog. In VDBA, you select the desired table from a database and choose a file from which you want to load the data in the Fastload Table dialog.