SQL*Loader DISCARDMAX Parameter

This parameter specifies the maximum number of discard records can be allowed during a particular data load. This is a number parameter and if you are not specifying any number for this argument then it will consider all discard records. Otherwise it will exit the data load once it reaches the limit. See an example below

Here is my data file

SQL Loader bad file vs Discard File: Difference and Examples

BAD File contains the records which are rejected either by SQL Loader or by the database because of the bad formatting or data type mismatch.

More details and example here.

DISCARD file is to store the records that are neither inserted into table nor rejected as bad. This is an optional parameter with SQL Loader and by default name would be .dsc.

Oracle SQL Loader Bad file (.bad) Parameter Example

The BAD parameter specifies the name of bad file created by SQL*Loader to store the records that rejected during the insert process because of the data type mismatch or improper format. If the file name is not specified, by default the SQL*Loader will take the .bad as the file name. If you specify the bad file name with parameter bad then it will override the default file name. See some examples below.