Reference: http://docs.oracle.com/cd/A87860_01/doc/server.817/a76956/start.htm

You can use SQL*Loader to do the following:
/ (A) Manipulate the data before loading it, using SQL functions.
/ (D) Generate unique sequential key values in specified columns.
etc:
/ Load data into multiple tables during the same load session.
/ Load data across anetwork. This means that you can run the SQL*Loader client on a different system from the one that is running the SQL*Loader server.
/ Load data from multiple datafiles during the same load session.
/Specify the character set of the data.
/ Selectivelyload data (you can load records based on the records' values).
/Use the operating system's file system to access the datafiles.
/ Load data from disk, tape, or named pipe.
/ Generate sophisticated error reports, which greatly aid troubleshooting.
/ Load arbitrarily complex object-relational data.
/ Use secondary datafiles for loading LOBs and collections.
/ Use either conventional or direct path loading. While conventional path loading is very flexible, direct path loading provides superior loading performance.
Note:
* SQL*Loader loads data from external files into tables of an Oracle database. It has a powerful data parsing engine that puts little limitation on the format of the data in the datafile.

D: The database internally uses standard file system interfaces to create and delete files as needed for the following database structures:
Tablespaces Redo log files Control files Archived logs Block change tracking files Flashback logs RMAN backups
Note:
* Using Oracle-managed files simplifies the administration of an Oracle Database. Oracle-managed files eliminate the need for you, the DBA, to directly manage the operating system files that make up an Oracle Database. With Oracle-managed files, you specify file system directories in which the database automatically creates, names, and manages files at the database object level. For example, you need only specify that you want to create a tablespace; you do not need to specify the name and path of the tablespace's datafile with the DATAFILE clause.
http://www.oracle-base.com/articles/9i/oracle-managed-files.php http://docs.oracle.com/cd/B10500_01/server.920/a96521/omf.htm Reference: What Are Oracle-Managed Files?