How do I import a CSV file into a database with DBLoader?

Open DBLoader, choose the file as source (CSV/TSV/TXT), select the CSV, connect to the target database, map the columns to a table (or let DBLoader create it) and run. The same dialog imports Excel, JSON, XML, INI and RDF files.

Can DBLoader export a database table to Excel or CSV?

Yes. Connect to the database, pick a table or run a query, choose the output format (Excel, CSV/TSV/TXT, JSON, XML, HTML or SQL) and the destination folder, then run. You can export many tables to many files in one batch.

Can DBLoader run without the GUI?

Yes. Every task can be saved as a session and run from the command line, so it can be scripted or scheduled with the Windows Task Scheduler or cron. See the Command Line and Task Scheduler sections.

Is my data uploaded anywhere?

No. DBLoader runs entirely on your own machine and talks directly to your database and files. Nothing is uploaded to Withdata or any cloud service.

DBLoader Help: Import, Export & Copy Data

DBLoader moves data between databases and files on Windows, macOS and Linux. It connects to 10+ databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, DB2, SQLite, DBF, …) and reads/writes 10+ formats (CSV, TSV/TXT, Excel, JSON, XML, HTML, SQL, INI, RDF). Everything runs locally - no data leaves your machine.

This page covers the main workflows. Each one takes a few clicks in the GUI, or a single command on the command line.

What you can do with DBLoader

Import files into a database - a single file (file to table) or a whole folder in batch (folder to table).
Export a database to files - one table or query (table to files, query to files), many tables to many files (tables to files), or several tables merged into one file (tables to one file).

Import files into a database

Start DBLoader and choose Import; set the source type to the format of your file - CSV/TSV/TXT, Excel, JSON, XML, INI or RDF.
Select the input file. The first rows are previewed so you can check the delimiter, header row and encoding.
Connect to the target database (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, DB2, SQLite, DBF, …).
Choose the destination table. If it does not exist yet, DBLoader can create it from the file's columns.
Map each source column to a table column (or accept the automatic mapping), then Run.

Tip: set the source encoding to UTF-8 for files that contain accented or non-Latin text, so characters are not garbled.

Batch import (a whole folder)

Point the source at a folder instead of a file and DBLoader imports every matching file in one run. Choose whether each file goes to its own table or all files are appended into a single table. See folder to table.

Export a database to files

Connect to the database and open a table (Open Table) or a query (Open Query).
Choose the output format: CSV/TSV/TXT, Excel, JSON, XML, HTML or SQL.
Pick the destination folder and a file name (a pattern is used when exporting many tables).
Run - the data is written to disk.

To export several tables at once, use tables to files; to merge several similar tables into one file, use tables to one file.

Run from the command line

Save a task as a session, then run it without the GUI - handy for servers and scripts. See Command Line.

Save a session & schedule a task

A session stores all the settings of a task so you can repeat it in one click. Combine it with the Task Scheduler (or cron) to run imports and exports automatically - for example a nightly export of a table to CSV.

Supported databases and formats

Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite, DBF (dBase/FoxPro), DB2 and more.

File formats: CSV / TSV / TXT, Excel, JSON / JSONL, XML, SQL, HTML, INI and RDF.

Troubleshooting

Garbled characters after import - set the source encoding to UTF-8 (or match the file's real encoding) on the import dialog.
Wrong number of columns - check the delimiter (comma vs. tab vs. semicolon) and whether the first row is a header.
Excel dates/numbers look wrong - Excel stores dates as numbers; import the original CSV when possible, or set the column type explicitly.
Large files - increase the batch size / commit interval, or split the file and import the parts.

Get DBLoader

Download the free trial (Windows, macOS, Linux) or buy a license. Prefer to do it in the browser? The free online converter handles CSV, Excel, JSON and SQL with nothing uploaded.