Want to import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files into a single PostgreSQL table?
Try Withdata FileToDB, a desktop TXT to PostgreSQL converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert TXT to PostgreSQL, 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 locally and privately, avoid uploading large or private TXT files to online services.
- Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Download FileToDB
Windows 64 bit
Windows 32 bit
Linux .deb (For Debian, Ubuntu) 64 bit
Linux .rpm (For Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE) 64 bit
MacOS 64 bit
Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files into a single PostgreSQL table
Login to PostgreSQL -> Choose TXT files -> Set PostgreSQL table -> Import TXT files to PostgreSQL table
Choose PostgreSQL and logon.
Click “Wizard – N Files To 1 Table” at task dialog.
Select the “TXT” file type.
then show the wizard.
1. Select a folder that constains TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files.
Support large ( > 4GB ) TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files.
2. Config first TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) file importing options.
3. Select a PostgreSQL table and config fields.
4. Preview data will be in PostgreSQL table.
5. Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to the PostgreSQL table.
View imported data in PostgreSQL table
Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to PostgreSQL in command line
Save “multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to PostgreSQL” session, then you can:
- Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to PostgreSQL in Windows command line.
- Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to PostgreSQL in Linux command line.
- Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to PostgreSQL in macOS command line.
Set scheduled tasks for importing multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to PostgreSQL
You can schedule and automate this converting task by:
- Save session and create .bat (Windows) or .sh (Linux/macOS) file for “TXT to PostgreSQL” conversion.
- Set scheduled task for “TXT to PostgreSQL” conversion.
FAQ
More about Withdata FileToDB – TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) to PostgreSQL converter
Download Withdata FileToDB
Windows 64 bit
Windows 32 bit
Linux .deb (For Debian, Ubuntu) 64 bit
Linux .rpm (For Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE) 64 bit
MacOS 64 bit
See also:
Pipe-delimited text → PostgreSQL reference
What is a pipe-delimited file?
A pipe-delimited file (also called pipe-separated values, PSV) is a plain-text file where each line is one record and a vertical bar | separates the fields. It works like CSV but uses | instead of ,, so a value that contains commas needs no quoting.
Name|Age|City
Alice|30|New York
Bob|41|San FranciscoTo open it in Excel: Data → From Text/CSV, then set the delimiter to | (or Text to Columns → Other = |).
Type mapping
| Value kind | in Pipe-delimited text | in PostgreSQL |
|---|---|---|
| Int | 1234 | integer |
| Bigint | 9007199254740993 | bigint |
| Decimal | 1234.56 | numeric(p,s) |
| Float | 1.234e+10 | double precision |
| Text | quoted only when it contains a pipe or a quote | varchar(n) |
| Long text | must be quoted; line breaks inside force multi-line records | text |
| Date | 2026-09-18 | date |
| Datetime | 2026-09-18 14:30:00 | timestamp |
| Binary | not representable - base64 or hex string | bytea |
| Boolean | TRUE / FALSE, or 1 / 0 depending on the writer | boolean |
| JSON | the whole JSON value quoted, with internal quotes doubled | jsonb |
Dialect differences
Pipe-delimited text 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 Pipe-delimited text | in PostgreSQL |
|---|---|---|
| port | — | 5432 |
| identifiers | Double quotes; a literal quote is doubled ("" ) | "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 | BYTEA |
| separator | Pipe "|" | — |
| 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; row count bounded by memory | — |
Command line
| Side | Command |
|---|---|
| PostgreSQL | pg_dump or COPY ... TO |
| PostgreSQL (load) | COPY ... FROM |
Convert your data online, free
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