How to Import SQL File to MySQL Using Command Line?

While working in the field of software development, the developers sometimes need to import db in the mysql command line. There are some operations like importing the tables, updating and manipulating the data, etc. You can also data dumps for manipulation and updating the data inside the database. Data dumps are defined as queries that are stored inside a file. Data dumps are also used to migrate the data into a new environment. In this article, you will see how to import db in the mysql command line.

There are various methods by which you can import a database in the MySQL command line such as using XAMPP, using MySQL import, and using MySQL dumps. etc. A command-line tool called mysqldump is used to create a logical backup of the MySQL database. To reconstruct the database objects and data, it generates the SQL statements. The output of the command can also be produced in CSV, delimited text, or XML formats. These can be used to import db in the mysql command line.

Although this command is simple to use, the only issue that arises is when restoring the database. As I said, whenever we create a backup of the MySQL database, a backup file is created that contains the SQL commands required to rebuild or restore the database. If your database is vast, the restoration process will take a while to finish. All the methods are explained in the below section with examples for a better understanding.

Using XAMPP

We can import the database in the MySQL command line using XAMPP. To do this operation, we need to open the command prompt in your system. After opening the command line prompt, execute the command given below in your command prompt:

Explanation: Now let us see the various parameters such as username, database_name, etc. that we have seen in this command.

• username: The user must need to replace this with the username that you have used to log in to the database of your system.
• database_name: The user needs to replace the name of the database where the user wants to import the SQL dump which will help to import the database in the MySQL command line.
• path_to_mysql_file.sql: This parameter should be replaced by the path of the directory where the user wants to import the MySQL dump file. For example- e.g: /home/examples/downloads/users.sql Using the above approach, you can import SQL files.

Command Line MySQL Import

To import the database in MySQL command line using the Command line, we will use the command: mysql -u username -p database_name < file.sql.

• Here, the username is the name of the client who is using the MySQL database.
• database_name is the name of the database where the user wants to import the SQL dump which will help to import the database in the MySQL command line.
• Then save the file in file_name.sql format.
• If there is any password then you will prompt to enter your password. Lastly, click the enter key to import the database in the MySQL command line.

Verify your data

After importing the data while performing import db in the mysql command line, if you want to verify the import whether the importing is processed or not, follows the step given below:

• First, open the phpMyAdmin or your preferred MySQL client.
• Then select the database for which you want to verify the operation.
• You can see there the tables that you have imported, if it is available or not.

Importing the Data into MYSQL from a File

We can import data into a MySQL database using mysqlimport command-line utility from the dump file into the MySQL database. To perform this, use the steps given below:

• The -u flag is used to specify the name of the MySQL user. And the -p flag is used to determine the password prompt which is related to that particular username.
• database: The user needs to replace the name of the database where the user wants to import the SQL dump which will help to import the database in the MySQL command line.
• You'll need to specify the path to your MySQL dump file that will contain your import data: ~/backup/database/magazines.sql.
• To import the data into MySQL from a file using mysqlimport command, we do not need to use either '>' or '<'.
• When you execute the command, then you will be prompted to enter your password for the MySQL user that you used.

How to Automate your MySQL Backups?

While managing the MySQL database to import db in the mysql command line, you may think about making an automaton to backup your all the processes of the MySQL database. In this section, let us see the various aspects of the MySQL backup process. Before that let us see some prerequisites that we need to understand for automating MySQL backups.

What is Backup Automation?

Backup automation in import db in the mysql command line is defined as the specific backup of processes in a specific storage engine. Backup automation is almost similar to database automation. If we break the term backup automation, then we get its meaning as the use of procedures and tools to facilitate administrative tasks for programmers or database administrators. Data automation is very useful if the size of the database increases.

Although creating MySQL backups and recovering from a MySQL dump is not a difficult operation, there will come a time when you'll want to automate it so that you can be sure your data is protected always.

Check out what we do at SimpleBackups if you need to manage multiple backups across many servers and want a solution you can rely on to orchestrate everything efficiently. MySQL backups are automated by SimpleBackups and sent securely to the cloud for storage.

Need to Automate Backup Processes?

Automatic backup is very similar to that of database backup processes. Creating a backup for any data makes your mind free from tensions including any kind of data loss, or vulnerable activities. You can simply recover your data in case of an accident. Remember that automating backups is typically achieved using certain tools, so this method also saves you time. Automating backups can help you recover your data more rapidly in case a calamity hits when you perform import db in the mysql command line. Now, let us see the method that we can perform automatic backup for your MySQL data manually.

Steps to automate the backup process

Given below are the steps you can perform to create Automate Backup Processes.

• First, you need to decide for which database you want to create an automated backup.

• Run the mysqldump command to perform the backup process. Use the syntax given below to create the backup.

• Now, move your backup to your preferred safe location.