How to import existing *.sql files in PostgreSQL 8.4?

Question

I am using PostgreSQL 8.4, and I have some *.sql files to import into a database. How can I do so?

Cornet

Answer 1

in command line first reach the directory where psql is present then write commands like this:

psql [database name] [username]

and then press enter psql asks for password give the user password:

then write

> \i [full path and file name with extension]

then press enter insertion done.

Cornet

I use this too. And it works. But, I change the supplied SQL statements. Previously the existing *.sql didn't use any character ; as the termination of a line. And I also must remove the GO. Do you t hink the sql script is not a psql script? – Spoiler

I tried to use \i [full path with extension] but I get the error message .sql no such file or directory. Could you please upload an example. Thanks. – Soult

If \i says no such file then it did not find a file at that position. It is best to give the absolute URL. For me on Windows, this commandline worked: \i /tmp/robert/test.sql of course you must have valid SQL commands in that file. – Revegetate

Answer 2

From the command line:

psql -f 1.sql
psql -f 2.sql

From the psql prompt:

\i 1.sql
\i 2.sql

Note that you may need to import the files in a specific order (for example: data definition before data manipulation). If you've got bash shell (GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, Cygwin) and the files may be imported in the alphabetical order, you may use this command:

for f in *.sql ; do psql -f $f ; done

Here's the documentation of the psql application (thanks, Frank): http://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/static/app-psql.html

Valenciavalenciennes

@moon Maybe you don't have access rights to the SQL files? What operating system are you on? – Valenciavalenciennes

@moon It's the password associated with your PostgreSQL user (the user-pass pair is stored in PostgreSQL). – Valenciavalenciennes

@moon I suggest that you split your problem into three stages: 1) make sure that you can get psql running. 2) make sure your user has the necessary write privileges, such as: CREATE, INSERT, UPDATE, etc. 3) import the SQL files. As far as I understand, you're at stage 1 now. – Valenciavalenciennes

@Bolo: Would you put the three stages into the answer? – Leila

@Valenciavalenciennes , As you mentioned I'm now in third steps. but how I can import .sql file from my local machine. I tried \i [full path with extension] but I get the error message .sql no such file or directory. Could you please give an example. – Soult

Okay, it`s working. How to update the new version of file to the same database? So I have changed the first version of file and now I would like to make this changes also in database from file. Is it possible to do it exaclty the same way? psql -f 1.sql e.g. 1.sql has the same name but include changes inside. – Vanessa

Answer 3

Well, the shortest way I know of, is following:

psql -U {user_name} -d {database_name} -f {file_path} -h {host_name}

database_name: Which database should you insert your file data in.

file_path: Absolute path to the file through which you want to perform the importing.

host_name: The name of the host. For development purposes, it is mostly localhost.

Upon entering this command in console, you will be prompted to enter your password.

Permian

Answer 4

Be careful with "/" and "\". Even on Windows the command should be in the form:

\i c:/1.sql

Corse

Answer 5

Always preferred using a connection service file (lookup/google 'psql connection service file')

Then simply:

psql service={yourservicename} < {myfile.sql}

Where yourservicename is a section name from the service file.

Consuetudinary

Answer 6

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use following command :-

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\12\bin>psql -U username -d databasename -f D:\file.sql

Amuse