Want to update data from TSV file to PostgreSQL ?
Using File To DB, a native GUI tool for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, you can update data from TSV file to PostgreSQL easily and fast.
- Can run in GUI mode, Step by Step, just a few mouse clicks.
- Can run in Command line, for Scheduled Tasks and Streams.
- Convert locally and securely, avoid uploading large or private TSV file(s) to online services.
Update data from TSV file to PostgreSQL
Login to PostgreSQL -> Choose TSV file -> Set PostgreSQL table -> Update TSV to PostgreSQL
Choose PostgreSQL and logon.
Click “Wizard – 1 File To 1 Table” at task dialog.
Select the “TSV” file type.
then show the wizard.
1. Open a source TSV file.
2. Select a PostgreSQL table and config fields.
Set “Load Type” to “Update”, choice “By Key”.
3. Preview data.
4. Update TSV data to PostgreSQL .
View updateed data
Update TSV data to PostgreSQL in command line
Save session, and then create .bat file for Windows command line, or .sh file for Linux / macOS.
Set scheduled tasks for updating TSV data to PostgreSQL
You can schedule and automate this “TSV to PostgreSQL” conversion task by:
1) Save session and create .bat (Windows) or .sh (Linux/macOS) file.
FAQ
More about FileToDB – TSV to PostgreSQL converter
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TSV → PostgreSQL reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in TSV | in PostgreSQL |
|---|---|---|
| Int | 1234 | integer |
| Bigint | 9007199254740993 | bigint |
| Decimal | 1234.56 | numeric(p,s) |
| Float | 1.234e+10 | double precision |
| Text | unquoted; a tab in the value splits the column | varchar(n) |
| Long text | unquoted; newlines break the row | text |
| Date | 2026-09-18 | date |
| Datetime | 2026-09-18 14:30:00 | timestamp |
| Binary | not representable | bytea |
| Boolean | TRUE / FALSE | boolean |
| JSON | the whole JSON value as-is (its own quotes stay) | jsonb |
Dialect differences
TSV is a file format and PostgreSQL is a database server, so the target has to be told the types the file never carried - the rows below are where the two sides diverge.
| Property | in TSV | in PostgreSQL |
|---|---|---|
| port | — | 5432 |
| identifiers | Rarely used, which is exactly why tabs in data break it | "double quotes" |
| row limit | — | LIMIT n |
| dates | Conventional text: 2026-09-18 or 2026-09-18 14:30:00 | timestamp, timestamptz, date, time |
| long text | — | TEXT |
| binary | Not supported - must be encoded | BYTEA |
| separator | Tab | — |
| encoding | No declaration - UTF-8 works only with a BOM | — |
| typing | None - every field is text | — |
| shape | Flat table, optional header row | Tables of rows and columns |
| ceiling | No formal limit | — |
Command line
| Side | Command |
|---|---|
| PostgreSQL | pg_dump or COPY ... TO |
| PostgreSQL (load) | COPY ... FROM |
Convert your data online, free
Free in-browser converters for CSV, Excel, JSON, XML and SQL: Withdata Online Data Conversion. Large files, batch conversion or scheduling? See the offline desktop apps, or browse all data conversion tools.
New to the format? Read what a TSV file is (and how it differs from CSV).
