Import TXT (pipe delimited text) into SQLite

Shiji Pan

1 year ago

Want to import data from TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) file to SQLite?

Try Withdata FileToDB, a desktop TXT to SQLite converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert TXT to SQLite, 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 SQLite

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 SQLite table and config fields.

3. Preview data will be in SQLite table.

4. Import TXT data to SQLite.

View imported data in SQLite table

Import TXT to SQLite in command line

Save “TXT to SQLite” session, then you can:

Set scheduled tasks for importing TXT to SQLite

You can schedule and automate this “TXT to SQLite” conversion task by:

FAQ

What is Withdata FileToDB?

Withdata FileToDB is an ETL software can import TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) data to SQLite. Download Withdata FileToDB

How long does it take to import TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) data to SQLite?

FileToDB works fast. It convert millions of rows within a minute.

Is it safe to import TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) data to SQLite using FileToDB?

Of course! FileToDB import TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) data to SQLite locally, absolutely safe.

Can I import TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) data to SQLite on Linux, Mac OS?

Yes, you can. FileToDB has Linux, Mac OS, and Windows version.

Can I import TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) data to SQLite in command line?

Yes, you can. FileToDB can running in command line, on Linux, Mac OS, and Windows.

More about Withdata FileToDB – TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) to SQLite 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

Pipe-delimited text → SQLite 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 Francisco

To 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 SQLite
Int	`1234`	`INTEGER`
Bigint	`9007199254740993`	`INTEGER`
Decimal	`1234.56`	`NUMERIC`
Float	`1.234e+10`	`REAL`
Text	`quoted only when it contains a pipe or a quote`	`TEXT`
Long text	`must be quoted; line breaks inside force multi-line records`	`TEXT`
Date	`2026-09-18`	`TEXT`
Datetime	`2026-09-18 14:30:00`	`TEXT`
Binary	`not representable - base64 or hex string`	`BLOB`
Boolean	`TRUE / FALSE, or 1 / 0 depending on the writer`	`INTEGER`
JSON	`the whole JSON value quoted, with internal quotes doubled`	`TEXT`

Dialect differences

Pipe-delimited text is a file format and SQLite 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 SQLite
port	`—`	`(file-based)`
identifiers	`Double quotes; a literal quote is doubled ("" )`	`"double quotes" or [brackets]`
row limit	`—`	`LIMIT n`
dates	`Conventional text: 2026-09-18 or 2026-09-18 14:30:00`	`TEXT (no date type)`
long text	`—`	`TEXT`
binary	`Not supported`	`BLOB`
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
SQLite	`sqlite3 .dump`
SQLite (load)	`.import (sqlite3)`

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