mysql_connect("localhost", "user", "password", false, 128) or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db("DATABASE") or die(mysql_error());
$datafile = '/path/to/file.csv';
$sql = mysql_query("TRUNCATE TABLE table_name");
$sql = mysql_query("LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE '$datafile' INTO TABLE table_name FIELDS TERMINATED BY ',' ENCLOSED BY '\"' ESCAPED BY '\\\\' LINES TERMINATED BY '\\r\\n'") or die(mysql_error());

The easiest way to get to the command line client is to open MySQL Query Browser and choose MySQL Command Line Client from the Tools menu. You can also get there by typing mysql at a Windows command prompt; it is the same command in the Mac and Unix terminal.

Make sure you first select the database you want with the use database_name command.

The syntax of LOAD DATA INFILE can be a bit overwhelming at first. This is what I found worked best for CSV files exported from MS Access or phpMyAdmin.

LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE 'c:/import.csv' INTO TABLE tbl_import_data FIELDS TERMINATED BY ',' LINES TERMINATED BY '\r\n' OPTIONALLY ENCLOSED BY '"' IGNORE 1 LINES (column_1, column_2, column_3, column_n);

There are many more options to this powerful command but the above example will handle the majority of your CSV needs. There are a few things to consider when using it:

• Fields are usually terminated by a comma but could be a semi-colon, tilde, or whatever delimiter you like.
• Specifying a line terminator may be necessary, depending on the text file format. This often depends on the operating system. Windows uses ‘\r\n’ while Mac and Unix uses ‘\n’, which is the default.
• Optional enclosing quotes are necessary when your text fields are enclosed by quotes, which is often the case by default. The “optional” keyword ensures that the command doesn’t die when it encounters a field that isn’t enclosed, such as an integer value.
• Ignoring the first line is useful for when you export data with column names in the first row
• Working on a local database may be easier, as special file permissions must be given to the user or the file must be accessible to the MySQL server.
• When loading a local file, you must supply the full path of the file you want to load.

Currently, I import the Excel file into Access and then export that in CSV (which allows you to select ” to enclose the fields. But that causes problems too - especially with date fields.

/Wendy