How to import a single table in to mysql database using command line

Question

Linux :

In command line

 mysql -u username -p  databasename  < path/example.sql

put your table in example.sql

Import / Export for single table:

1. Export table schema

   mysqldump -u username -p databasename tableName > path/example.sql
   

   This will create a file named example.sql at the path mentioned and write the create table sql command to create table tableName.

2. Import data into table

   mysql -u username -p databasename < path/example.sql
   

   This command needs an sql file containing data in form of insert statements for table tableName. All the insert statements will be executed and the data will be loaded.

Export:

mysqldump --user=root databasename > whole.database.sql
mysqldump --user=root databasename onlySingleTableName > single.table.sql

Import:

Whole database:

mysql --user=root wholedatabase < whole.database.sql

Single table:

mysql --user=root databasename < single.table.sql

All of these options are fine, if you have the option to re-export the data.

But if you need to use an existing SQL file, and use a specific table from it, then this perl script in the TimeSheet blog, with enable you to extract the table to a separate SQL file, and then import it.

The original link is dead, so it is a good thing that someone has put it instead of the author, Jared Cheney, on GitHub, in this link.

Importing the Single Table

To import a single table into an existing database you would use the following command:

mysql -u username -p -D database_name < tableName.sql

Note:It is better to use full path of the sql file tableName.sql

Command Line

Import / Export for single table:

Exporting table schema

 -> mysqldump -u your_user_name -p your_database_name table_name > test.sql

This will create a file named test.sql and creates table sql command to create table table_name.

Importing data into table

 -> mysql -u your_user_name -p database_name table_name < test.sql

Make sure your test.sql file is in the same directory, if not navigate through the path and then run the command.