How to import an SQL file using the command line i

Question

I have a .sql file with an export from phpMyAdmin. I want to import it into a different server using the command line.

I have a Windows Server 2008 R2 installation. I placed the .sql file on the C drive, and I tried this command

database_name < file.sql

It is not working I get syntax errors.

• How can I import this file without a problem?
• Do I need to create a database first?

Answer 1

A common use of mysqldump is for making a backup of an entire database:

shell> mysqldump db_name > backup-file.sql

You can load the dump file back into the server like this:

UNIX

shell> mysql db_name < backup-file.sql

The same in Windows command prompt:

mysql -p -u [user] [database] < backup-file.sql

PowerShell

C:\> cmd.exe /c "mysql -u root -p db_name < backup-file.sql"

MySQL command line

mysql> use db_name;
mysql> source backup-file.sql;

Answer 2

If you already have the database use the following to import the dump or the sql file

mysql -u username -p database_name < file.sql

if you don't you need to create the relevant database(empty) in MySQL, for that first log on to the MySQL console by running the following command in terminal or in cmd

mysql -u userName -p;

and when prompted provide the password.

Next create a database and use it

mysql>create database yourDatabaseName;
mysql>use yourDatabaseName;

Then import the sql or the dump file to the database from

mysql> source pathToYourSQLFile;

Note: if your terminal is not in the location where the dump or sql file exists, use the relative path in above.

Answer 3

I thought it could be useful for those who are using Mac OS X:

/Applications/xampp/xamppfiles/bin/mysql -u root -p database < database.sql

Replace xampp with mamp or other web servers.

Answer 4

Easiest way to import into your schema:

Login to mysql and issue below mention commands.

mysql> use your_db_name;

mysql> source /opt/file.sql;

Answer 5

I'm using Windows 10 with Powershell 5 and I found almost all "unix-like" solutions not working for me.

> mysql -u[username] [database-name] < my-database.sql
At line:1 char:31
+ mysql -u[username] [database-name] < my-database.sql
+                               ~
The '<' operator is reserved for future use.
    + CategoryInfo          : ParserError: (:) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : RedirectionNotSupported

I ends up using this command.

> type my-database.sql | mysql -u[username] -h[localhost] -p [database-name]

and it works perfectly, hopefully it helps.

Thanks to @Francesco Casula's answer btw.

Answer 6

Try:

mysql -u username -p database_name < file.sql

Check MySQL Options.

Note-1: It is better to use the full path of the SQL file file.sql.

Note-2: Use -R and --triggers to keep the routines and triggers of original database. They are not copied by default.

Note-3 You may have to create the (empty) database from mysql if it doesn't exist already and the exported SQL don't contain CREATE DATABASE (exported with --no-create-db or -n option), before you can import it.