Batch convert SQL files to TSV files

Shiji Pan

1 year ago

Want to batch convert SQL files to TSV files?

Try Withdata Data File Converter, a desktop SQL to TSV converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Batch convert SQL to TSV, Easy 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 files locally and privately, avoid uploading large SQL file(s) to online services.
Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Click “Start a New Convert” at task dialog.

then show the wizard.

Select From “Files” “SQL” To “Files” “TSV”.

And config the first source SQL file.

List source SQL files.

After converting, you can view output TSV files.

SQL → TSV reference

Value kind	in SQL	in TSV
Int	`INT`	`1234`
Bigint	`BIGINT`	`9007199254740993`
Decimal	`DECIMAL(p,s)`	`1234.56`
Float	`DOUBLE PRECISION`	`1.234e+10`
Text	`VARCHAR(n)`	`unquoted; a tab in the value splits the column`
Long text	`TEXT / CLOB`	`unquoted; newlines break the row`
Date	`DATE`	`2026-09-18`
Datetime	`TIMESTAMP`	`2026-09-18 14:30:00`
Binary	`BLOB / BYTEA`	`not representable`
Boolean	`BOOLEAN / SMALLINT`	`TRUE / FALSE`
JSON	`JSON / TEXT`	`the whole JSON value as-is (its own quotes stay)`

Both SQL and TSV are file formats, so what differs below is how each one chooses to represent a value.

Property	in SQL	in TSV
identifiers	`Two competing conventions: single-quoted literals and diale...`	`Rarely used, which is exactly why tabs in data break it`
dates	`Depends on the dialect: DATE literals, TO_DATE(), or plain ...`	`Conventional text: 2026-09-18 or 2026-09-18 14:30:00`
binary	`Dialect-specific: X-quoted literal, 0x hex, or decode()`	`Not supported - must be encoded`
separator	`Statement terminators (;)`	`Tab`
encoding	`No declaration`	`No declaration - UTF-8 works only with a BOM`
typing	`Types belong to the target database, and they differ betwee...`	`None - every field is text`
shape	`Statements; a dump usually means CREATE TABLE plus INSERT rows`	`Flat table, optional header row`
ceiling	`No formal limit, but a single INSERT statement has to fit i...`	`No formal limit`

For batch jobs, large files and scheduling use the Data File Converter converter — an offline desktop app for Windows, Linux and macOS. Free trial.

New to the format? Read what a TSV file is (and how it differs from CSV).