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CSV to SQL Converter

Transform CSV data into SQL INSERT statements instantly. Perfect for importing spreadsheet data, migrating legacy systems, or creating database seeds.

Configuration

CSV Input
SQL Output

Click "Convert" to generate SQL

How to Convert CSV to SQL Instantly

CSV (Comma Separated Values) is the universal language of data exchange. Whether it's from Excel, Google Sheets, or legacy systems, converting CSV files to SQL INSERT statements is necessary for importing data into relational databases. Our CSV to SQL Converter simplifies this task by parsing your files, auto-detecting column types, and generating optimized SQL queries ready for execution.

Why Use a CSV to SQL Converter?

Manually writing SQL for thousands of spreadsheet rows is impractical. This tool handles the complexity of:

  • Handling Special Characters: Quotes, commas inside fields, and newlines are properly escaped.
  • Schema Generation: Automatically creates CREATE TABLE statements matching your data structure.
  • Data Type Optimization: Distinguishes between integers, decimals, booleans, and text to choose the right SQL column type.

Key Features

  • Robust Parsing Engine: Built on top of standard parsing libraries to handle edge cases like quoted fields containing delimiters.
  • Smart Type Inference: Scans your data to determine if a column is INTEGER, REAL, BOOLEAN, or TEXT.
  • Header Support: Uses the first row as column names, or auto-generates names (col_1, col_2...) if missing.
  • Flexible Output: Customize table names and include/exclude DROP/CREATE statements.
  • Client-Side Processing: Files are processed entirely in your browser, ensuring data privacy and speed.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Upload or Paste CSV: Copy your data from Excel/Sheets and paste it into the "CSV Input" area.
  2. Configure Import Settings:
    • Table Name: Define the target SQL table name.
    • First row is header: Uncheck this if your data starts immediately without column names.
  3. Review Output: The tool generates SQL instantly. Errors (like malformed CSV) are highlighted.
  4. Export Code: Copy the SQL to your clipboard or download it as a .sql file for execution.

Handling Delimiters and Quote Characters

Not all CSVs are comma-separated. European formats often use semicolons (;), and data often contains commas within the text itself (e.g., "Chicago, IL").

  • Auto-Detection: Our parser attempts to guess if your file is comma, tab, or pipe-separated.
  • Quotes Handling: Text containing the delimiter must be wrapped in quotes (e.g., "1,000"). We respect the standard RFC 4180 rules.
  • Escaping Quotes: Double quotes inside a field are escaped by another double quote (e.g., "She said ""Hello""").

Handling Large CSV Files & Performance

Processing large datasets (10,000+ rows) requires efficient strategies. While our tool works great for medium-sized files (up to ~50MB) directly in the browser, here are tips for massive datasets:

  • Batching: The generated SQL uses multi-row VALUES clauses (batch size 100) to speed up database insertion.
  • Transactions: For maximum speed, wrap the generated INSERTs in a transaction:
    BEGIN TRANSACTION;
    INSERT INTO users VALUES (...);
    ...
    COMMIT;
  • Chunking: If the file is too large for the browser, split it into smaller CSV files and convert them one by one.

Data Type Mapping

The converter looks at the values in each column to decide the best SQL type:

CSV Value ExampleInferred SQL Type
123, -42INTEGER
12.34, 0.005REAL / DECIMAL
true, false, 1, 0BOOLEAN (or TINYINT)
2023-12-25TEXT (treated as ISO Strings)
Hello WorldTEXT / VARCHAR

Common Use Cases

Excel to Database

Migrate product catalogs, user lists, or financial data from Excel/CSV exports directly into your SQL database.

Test Data Generation

Design test scenarios in a spreadsheet, then convert them to SQL to seed your development or staging database.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are empty cells handled?

Empty cells in the CSV are converted to SQL NULL values, assuming the column allows nulls. If it's a text column, it might be an empty string depending on your preference.

Does it support custom delimiters?

Currently, we auto-detect standard delimiters (comma, semicolon, tab, pipe). If your file uses a really obscure delimiter, try replacing it with a comma in a text editor first.

My data has commas in it!

No problem. Standard CSV format handles commas within fields by enclosing the field in double quotes (e.g., "London, UK"). Our parser respects this standard.

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