How to Convert CSV file to SQL Script using Notepad++

If you have a .csv file and you want to convert it into an SQL insert Query (be MySql, SQLite, Oracle), this can be done in just a few simple steps using Notepad++ Find and Replace with some Regular Expressions.

GIF showing csv to sql script using Notepad++

Open the CSV (Comma Separated Values) file in Notepad++

Our Sample CSV Data :

1,data1,data-a,323
2,data2,data-b,324
3,data3,data-a,325
4,data4,data-b,326
5,data5,data-a,327
6,data6,data-b,328

Enclose each data values in CSV file with Single Quotes.

Open Find and Replace by pressing "Ctrl + F", go to replace tab and,

Find : ,
Replace with : ','

Result :

1','data1','data-a','323
2','data2','data-b','324
3','data3','data-a','325
4','data4','data-b','326
5','data5','data-a','327
6','data6','data-b','328

Now data values are enclosed with Quotes, expect the row start and end. For this we need to use Regular Expression.

Forming the Query

Find : ^
Replace : insert insert myTable values\('

insert insert myTable values('1','data1','data-a','323
insert insert myTable values('2','data2','data-b','324
insert insert myTable values('3','data3','data-a','325
insert insert myTable values('4','data4','data-b','326
insert insert myTable values('5','data5','data-a','327
insert insert myTable values('6','data6','data-b','328

Now lets complete the Sql script.

Go to Find and Replace again and,

Find : $
Replace : '\);

Make sure that you select "Regular Expression" in Search Mode. \ (slash) is an escape character for braces in regex.

Result :

insert insert myTable values('1','data1','data-a','323');
insert insert myTable values('2','data2','data-b','324');
insert insert myTable values('3','data3','data-a','325');
insert insert myTable values('4','data4','data-b','326');
insert insert myTable values('5','data5','data-a','327');
insert insert myTable values('6','data6','data-b','328');

$ is a regex character to add data at the end of each line in file.

Thats it!! Our SQL Script is now ready!..

Note: Data may not be as simple as we have considered in our example. We may have Single Quotes (') in within itself, So in such cases, you need to first escape it by,

Find : '
Replace : ''

⚠️ Remember to move search mode in "Regular Expression" while using RegEx or else you may not get results.

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