Copy content from a csv to PostgreSQL table

Question

I am trying to copy content from a csv-file to an existing but empty table in PostgreSQL. This is how far I've come:

COPY countries FROM 'C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.5\data\countries-20140629.csv'
DELIMITERS ',' CSV HEADER

The Problem that I'm experiencing is that the csv-file containts three columns (code, english_name and French_name), whereas my table only persists of two columns (code, english_name). Adding a third column to my table is not an Option.

Is there any way to tell PostgreSQL to only import the first two columns of the csv-file?

Short answer: no. Possible workarounds: 1) edit the csv file, removing the second comma and everything that comes after it. 2) import into a temp table with the correct number of columns, and ignore the third column. — joop
– joop, Commented Jan 25, 2016 at 12:48

throny · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-25 12:49:13Z

2

The easiest way is to modify your CSV and delete the last column.

You could try it like the documentation says:

In your case it would be like:

COPY countries (code, english_name) FROM 'C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.5\data\countries-20140629.csv' DELIMITERS ',' CSV HEADER

Take a look in the documentation for further help: PostgreSQL.org

answered Jan 25, 2016 at 12:49

throny

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MortenSickel · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-25 12:48:10Z

-1

As far as I can see, there is no possibility to tell postgres to only import a subset of the columns. What you can do, is to import the csv file into a temporary table and then transfer the data you want from the temporary table to your final table.

answered Jan 25, 2016 at 12:48

MortenSickel

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1 Comment

user330315 Over a year ago

It is possible, see motho's answer

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