Import data from XML file to PostgreSQL

Shiji Pan

1 year ago

Want to import data from XML file to PostgreSQL ?

Try Withdata FileToDB, a desktop XML to PostgreSQL converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert XML 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.
Import XML to PostgreSQL locally and privately, avoid uploading XML file(s) to online services.
Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Download Withdata FileToDB
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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 XML file to PostgreSQL

Click “Wizard – 1 File To 1 Table” at task dialog.

Select the “XML” file type.

then show the wizard.

1. Open a XML file.

Support large ( > 4GB ) XML 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 XML data to PostgreSQL.

View imported data in PostgreSQL table

XML → PostgreSQL reference

Type mapping

Value kind	in XML	in PostgreSQL
Int	`<int>1234</int>`	`integer`
Bigint	`<bigint>9007199254740993</bigint>`	`bigint`
Decimal	`<decimal>1234.56</decimal>`	`numeric(p,s)`
Float	`<float>1.234e10</float>`	`double precision`
Text	`<char>text</char>`	`varchar(n)`
Long text	`<text>multi-line text</text> (entities for & <)`	`text`
Date	`<date>2026-09-18</date> (xs:date with an XSD)`	`date`
Datetime	`<datetime>2026-09-18T14:30:00Z</datetime> (xs:dateTime)`	`timestamp`
Binary	`<blob>base64...</blob> (xs:base64Binary)`	`bytea`
Boolean	`<bool>true</bool>`	`boolean`
JSON	`escaped inside an element, or its own sub-tree`	`jsonb`

Dialect differences

XML 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 XML	in PostgreSQL
port	`—`	`5432`
identifiers	`Attribute values in quotes; entities (& < >) for ...`	`"double quotes"`
row limit	`—`	`LIMIT n`
dates	`Text (xs:date / xs:dateTime when an XSD is in play)`	`timestamp, timestamptz, date, time`
long text	`—`	`TEXT`
binary	`base64Binary / hexBinary inside text`	`BYTEA`
separator	`Tags, not delimiters`	`—`
encoding	`Declared in the XML declaration`	`—`
typing	`None in the markup itself`	`—`
shape	`Arbitrary tree`	`Tables of rows and columns`
ceiling	`Whole document is usually parsed into memory`	`—`

Command line

Side	Command
PostgreSQL	`pg_dump or COPY ... TO`
PostgreSQL (load)	`COPY ... FROM`

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