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SQL to CSV Converter

Transform SQL database dumps into CSV (Comma-Separated Values) format with customizable delimiters, quotes, and line endings

SQL Input

CSV Output

About SQL to CSV Converter

Convert SQL database dumps (CREATE TABLE and INSERT statements) to CSV (Comma-Separated Values) format. CSV is a universal data format supported by spreadsheet applications, databases, and data analysis tools. This converter provides full RFC 4180 compliance with customizable delimiters, quotes, and line endings.

Key Features

  • Multiple Delimiters: Comma, semicolon, tab, pipe, or custom delimiter
  • Custom Quote Character: Configure quote character for special values
  • Line Ending Options: LF (Unix/Mac) or CRLF (Windows)
  • RFC 4180 Compliant: Proper escaping and quoting of special characters
  • Header Support: Optional header row with column names
  • Smart Parsing: Extracts column names and data from SQL dumps
  • File Download: Save as .csv file

How to Use

  1. Input SQL Data: Paste your SQL CREATE TABLE and INSERT statements or upload a .sql file
  2. Choose Delimiter: Select comma, semicolon, tab, pipe, or custom delimiter
  3. Configure Options: Set quote character and line ending format
  4. Toggle Header: Enable or disable header row
  5. Copy or Download: Use the Copy or Download button to save your CSV

Delimiter Options

  • Comma (,): Standard CSV format, most widely supported
  • Semicolon (;): Common in European locales where comma is decimal separator
  • Tab (\t): TSV format, good for data with commas in values
  • Pipe (|): Alternative delimiter for special cases
  • Custom: Use any character as delimiter

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');

CSV Output (comma delimiter, with header):

id,name,price,category
1,Laptop,999.99,Electronics
2,Mouse,24.99,Accessories

CSV Output (semicolon delimiter, with header):

id;name;price;category
1;Laptop;999.99;Electronics
2;Mouse;24.99;Accessories

Common Use Cases

  • Excel Import: Import SQL data into Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets
  • Data Analysis: Use with Python pandas, R, or statistical tools
  • Database Migration: Transfer data between different database systems
  • Reporting: Generate reports from database queries
  • Data Backup: Create portable backups of database tables
  • ETL Pipelines: Extract data for transformation and loading

RFC 4180 Compliance

This converter follows RFC 4180 standard for CSV format:

  • Quoting: Values with delimiters, quotes, or newlines are quoted
  • Escaping: Quote characters inside values are doubled
  • Line Endings: Consistent line endings throughout file
  • Header Row: Optional first row with field names

Special Character Handling

Values Requiring Quotes:

  • Contains delimiter character
  • Contains quote character
  • Contains newline or carriage return

Quote Escaping:

  • Quote characters are doubled: " becomes ""
  • Example: "John "The Boss" Smith" becomes "John ""The Boss"" Smith"

Line Ending Options

LF (\n) - Unix/Mac:

  • Single line feed character
  • Standard on Unix, Linux, and macOS
  • Smaller file size

CRLF (\r\n) - Windows:

  • Carriage return + line feed
  • Standard on Windows systems
  • Better compatibility with Windows applications

Supported Applications

  • Microsoft Excel: Import CSV with Data > From Text/CSV
  • Google Sheets: File > Import > Upload CSV
  • LibreOffice Calc: Open CSV with delimiter detection
  • Python pandas: pd.read_csv() function
  • R: read.csv() or read.table() functions
  • MySQL: LOAD DATA INFILE command
  • PostgreSQL: COPY command

Best Practices

  • Include Headers: Enable header row for better data identification
  • Choose Appropriate Delimiter: Use semicolon if data contains commas
  • Match Line Endings: Use CRLF for Windows, LF for Unix/Mac
  • Test Import: Verify CSV imports correctly in target application
  • Handle Special Characters: Ensure proper quoting for complex data

Supported SQL Syntax

  • CREATE TABLE: Extracts column names for CSV 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

Privacy & Security

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