Want to import data from TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) file to PostgreSQL?
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 file(s) to online services.
- Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.
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
Import data from TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) file to PostgreSQL
Login to PostgreSQL -> Choose TXT file -> Set PostgreSQL table -> Import TXT to PostgreSQL
Choose PostgreSQL and logon.
Click “Wizard – 1 File To 1 Table” at task dialog.
Select the “TXT” file type.
then show the wizard.
1. Open a TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) file.
Support large ( > 4GB ) TXT file.
Here is the file’s content.
2. Select a PostgreSQL table and config fields.
3. Preview data will be in PostgreSQL table.
4. Import TXT data to PostgreSQL.
View imported data in PostgreSQL table
Import TXT to PostgreSQL in command line
Save “TXT to PostgreSQL” session, then you can:
- Import TXT to PostgreSQL in Windows command line.
- Import TXT to PostgreSQL in Linux command line.
- Import TXT to PostgreSQL in macOS command line.
Set scheduled tasks for importing TXT to PostgreSQL
You can schedule and automate this “TXT to PostgreSQL” conversion 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
What is Withdata FileToDB?
How long does it take to import TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) data to PostgreSQL?
Is it safe to import TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) data to PostgreSQL using FileToDB?
Can I import TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) data to PostgreSQL on Linux, Mac OS?
Can I import TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) data to PostgreSQL in command line?
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
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
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.