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

Input SQL Data: Paste your SQL CREATE TABLE and INSERT statements or upload a .sql file
Choose Delimiter: Select comma, semicolon, tab, pipe, or custom delimiter
Configure Options: Set quote character and line ending format
Toggle Header: Enable or disable header row
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do some values appear in quotes? A: Any value containing the delimiter, quote character, or newlines is quoted to comply with CSV standards and import correctly in tools.
Q: Can I use a multi-character custom delimiter? A: Yes, but many CSV consumers expect a single character. Make sure your target application supports your chosen delimiter.
Q: How are NULL values represented? A: NULL and empty SQL values are exported as empty fields between delimiters so they can be interpreted as missing data.
Q: Which line ending should I choose? A: Use LF for Unix/macOS and most modern tools; use CRLF if your workflow or target application is Windows-centric.
Q: Why does my import shift columns? A: This usually indicates a delimiter mismatch or unescaped quotes. Verify the delimiter and that the target importer is set to the same delimiter and quote character.

Privacy & Security

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

SQL to CSV Converter

SQL Input

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CSV Output

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