SQL to BBCode Converter

About SQL to BBCode Converter

Convert SQL database dumps (CREATE TABLE and INSERT statements) to BBCode table format for use in forum posts. BBCode (Bulletin Board Code) is a lightweight markup language used by many forum platforms including phpBB, vBulletin, MyBB, and others to format posts and create tables.

Key Features

• Multiple Table Styles: Simple, bordered, and striped table formats
• Header Support: Optional header rows with [th] tags
• Cell Alignment: Left, center, or right alignment options
• Special Character Escaping: Handles square brackets and special characters
• Forum Compatible: Works with phpBB, vBulletin, MyBB, and more
• Smart Parsing: Extracts column names and data from SQL dumps
• File Download: Save as .bbcode file

How to Use

1. Input SQL Data: Paste your SQL CREATE TABLE and INSERT statements or upload a .sql file
2. Choose Style: Select simple, bordered, or striped table style
3. Set Alignment: Choose left, center, or right alignment for cells
4. Configure Header: Toggle header row with [th] tags
5. Copy or Download: Use the Copy or Download button to save your BBCode

BBCode Table Tags

• [table]: Opens a table
• [tr]: Defines a table row
• [th]: Defines a header cell
• [td]: Defines a data cell
• [left], [center], [right]: Alignment tags

Example Conversion

SQL Input:

CREATE TABLE products (
  id INT,
  name VARCHAR(100),
  price DECIMAL(10,2),
  category VARCHAR(50)
);

INSERT INTO products VALUES (1, 'Laptop', 999.99, 'Electronics');
INSERT INTO products VALUES (2, 'Mouse', 24.99, 'Accessories');

BBCode Output (simple style, center aligned, with header):

[table]
[tr]
[th][center]id[/center][/th]
[th][center]name[/center][/th]
[th][center]price[/center][/th]
[th][center]category[/center][/th]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][center]1[/center][/td]
[td][center]Laptop[/center][/td]
[td][center]999.99[/center][/td]
[td][center]Electronics[/center][/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td][center]2[/center][/td]
[td][center]Mouse[/center][/td]
[td][center]24.99[/center][/td]
[td][center]Accessories[/center][/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Common Use Cases

• Forum Posts: Share database tables in forum discussions
• Technical Support: Display error logs or configuration data
• Gaming Communities: Share game statistics and leaderboards
• Documentation: Create technical documentation in forums
• Bug Reports: Include database state in bug reports

Supported Forum Platforms

phpBB:

• Full BBCode table support
• Bordered and striped styles
• Alignment options

vBulletin:

• Standard BBCode table tags
• Header and data cells
• Custom styling options

MyBB:

• Complete table support
• Alignment and styling
• Responsive tables

Table Styles

Simple:

• Basic table without borders
• Clean and minimal appearance
• Best for simple data display

Bordered:

• Table with visible borders (border=1)
• Clear cell separation
• Professional appearance

Striped:

• Alternating row colors (class=striped)
• Improved readability
• Modern table design

Alignment Options

Left Alignment:

• Default alignment for text
• Best for names and descriptions
• Natural reading flow

Center Alignment:

• Centered content in cells
• Good for headers and short values
• Balanced visual appearance

Right Alignment:

• Right-aligned content
• Best for numeric values
• Aligns decimal points naturally

Special Character Handling

• Square Brackets: Escaped as [ and ] to prevent BBCode conflicts
• Newlines: Converted to spaces for single-line cells
• Carriage Returns: Removed for clean output

Supported SQL Syntax

• CREATE TABLE: Extracts column names for table headers
• INSERT INTO: Parses data values from INSERT statements
• Data Types: Handles all SQL data types (VARCHAR, INT, DECIMAL, etc.)
• Quoted Strings: Handles single and double quotes with proper escaping

Best Practices

• Use Headers: Enable header rows for better readability
• Choose Appropriate Style: Bordered tables for complex data, simple for basic info
• Align Consistently: Use right alignment for numbers, left for text
• Test in Forum: Preview BBCode in your forum before posting
• Keep Tables Small: Large tables may not display well on mobile devices

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Which forums support this BBCode table syntax? A: The generated markup works with most classic forum engines that support [table], including phpBB, vBulletin, MyBB, and many derivatives.
• Q: Why are square brackets escaped? A: To prevent conflicts with BBCode parsing. Literal [ and ] characters are encoded so they appear correctly in posts.
• Q: Can I add custom CSS classes to the table? A: Some forums allow custom classes (like class=striped); others ignore them. Check your forums BBCode/table documentation.
• Q: How do I make the table responsive on mobile? A: Responsiveness depends on your forum theme. This tool focuses on markup; mobile behavior is controlled by the forums CSS.
• Q: What if my data contains newlines? A: Newlines are converted to spaces so each cell stays on a single line, which keeps table rendering predictable across different forums.

Privacy & Security

All conversions happen locally in your browser. Your SQL data is never uploaded to any server, ensuring complete privacy and security.