importing file in php myadmin

[runway27]

presently i have a table in which there are records and the fields are slno (this is a primary key auto increment), firstname, lastname, email, date(which inserts as a date format) these records are presenty being inserting from a html form. this works fine.

i have additional data that is on paper and this paper data needs to be added to this table and the are numerous records that have to be inserted so executing an sql query from myphpadmin is not a good option. due to this i would lke to add the paper data first into a text file or csv file and then use the Import feature in phpyadmin so that this new data is added to the existing table along with the data that is already inserted through the form.

please advice
1. if a text file or csv file is preferrable.
2. in what format should the data be entered in the case of
a) text file & ) csv file

should i mention slno, firstname, lastname, email, date
on top of the file and add data accordingly.

also as slno is auto increment do i need to specify the numeric number or is it optional and in case of date do i need to follow the same format as it is for previous records while entering the data manually into the text or csv file.

thanks.

[rpnew]

presently i have a table in which there are records and the fields are slno (this is a primary key auto increment), firstname, lastname, email, date(which inserts as a date format) these records are presenty being inserting from a html form. this works fine.

i have additional data that is on paper and this paper data needs to be added to this table and the are numerous records that have to be inserted so executing an sql query from myphpadmin is not a good option. due to this i would lke to add the paper data first into a text file or csv file and then use the Import feature in phpyadmin so that this new data is added to the existing table along with the data that is already inserted through the form.

please advice
1. if a text file or csv file is preferrable.
2. in what format should the data be entered in the case of
a) text file & ) csv file

should i mention slno, firstname, lastname, email, date
on top of the file and add data accordingly.

also as slno is auto increment do i need to specify the numeric number or is it optional and in case of date do i need to follow the same format as it is for previous records while entering the data manually into the text or csv file.

thanks.

Hi,
You can use the LOAD DATA... query in MySql to load data from file to MySql table. Check the link..

Regards,
RP

[code green]

please advice

1. if a text file or csv file is preferrable.

A CSV file is a text file with comma-seperated data.
But use CSV, just be sure to type a comma in the "Fields seperated by" box.
The other fields can be left as default

2. in what format should the data be entered in the case of
a) text file & ) csv file

Each data field seperated by a comma, with carriage return at end of record.
Do not leave the field headings in the file.
You can seperate with semi-colons or tabs, recommended if you have commas in your data, but be sure to specify so in 1. above

should i mention slno, firstname, lastname, email, date on top of the file and add data accordingly

If you leave them as headings in the file the headings will be entered as a record.
Not fatal but a nuisance.
Enter the field names in the "Column names" box, seperated by a comma in the order they are in the file.
If the number of fields matches the number of field entries in the file then you can leave box empty.

also as slno is auto increment do i need to specify the numeric number or is it optional

The table will generate the numbers, but if you specify them in the data, this will take precedence

and in case of date do i need to follow the same format as it is for previous records while entering the data manually into the text or csv file.

MySql expects the format YYYY-MM-DD in a DATE field.
I don't recommend any other format
Try some test runs first on a test table to get the feel.
It is reliable but big files may timeout