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Convert SQL INSERT Statements to CSV Online Extract data from SQL INSERT statements and convert to CSV format.

SQL to CSV illustration
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SQL to CSV

Extract data from SQL INSERT statements and convert to CSV format.

1

Paste SQL statements

Paste your SQL INSERT statements into the input.

2

Extract columns and values

Column names and values are extracted into CSV format.

3

Copy CSV output

Copy or download the CSV data.

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What Is SQL to CSV?

A SQL to CSV converter is a software tool that extracts data from SQL INSERT statements and converts it into comma-separated values format, allowing users to easily import the data into spreadsheets or other applications. Database administrators and developers use this type of tool to extract data from SQL dumps, migration scripts, and database backups. One specific problem it solves is handling quoted strings with commas in VALUES clauses, which can be tricky to parse correctly.

The sql parser in this tool is particularly useful for convert insert to csv operations, as it accurately extracts column names from the INSERT INTO clause and values from the VALUES clause. It also supports multiple INSERT statements, combining them into a single CSV output with a header row. This feature makes it different from other converters, which may require manual processing of each statement or struggle with quoted strings.

What sets this tool apart is its ability to handle NULL values by replacing them with empty strings and stripping surrounding quotes from values. It also escapes special characters in the CSV output using double quotes, ensuring that the data can be imported correctly into target applications. When you use it to extract sql data, you get a clean and formatted csv file that's ready for analysis or further processing.

Why Use SQL to CSV?

  • Parses standard INSERT INTO ... VALUES ... syntax.
  • Handles quoted strings with escaped characters.
  • Supports multiple INSERT statements with automatic column merging.
  • Properly handles NULL values and numeric literals.

Common Use Cases

Data Extraction

Extract tabular data from SQL dump files for analysis in spreadsheets.

Database Migration

Convert SQL insert scripts into CSV for import into different database systems.

Data Review

Export SQL scripts to CSV for easier review and validation.

Backup Analysis

Extract data from SQL backup files into a format that can be opened in Excel.

Technical Guide

The parser uses a regex pattern to match INSERT INTO statements with explicit column lists and VALUES clauses. Column names are extracted from the column list and cleaned of backtick/quote delimiters.

Values parsing uses a character-by-character state machine to properly handle: single-quoted strings (with escaped quotes via doubling), double-quoted strings, numeric literals, and the NULL keyword. Commas within quoted strings are not treated as value separators.

Quote characters surrounding string values are stripped from the output. NULL values are converted to empty strings in the CSV. Multiple INSERT statements for the same or different tables are merged, with all unique columns collected for the header row.

CSV output follows RFC 4180 with proper escaping for values containing commas or quotes.

Tips & Best Practices

  • 1
    INSERT statements must include explicit column lists: INSERT INTO table (col1, col2) VALUES (...).
  • 2
    Multiple INSERT statements are merged into a single CSV output.
  • 3
    NULL values become empty cells in the CSV.
  • 4
    Quoted strings have their surrounding quotes stripped automatically.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q What SQL syntax is supported?
Standard INSERT INTO table (columns) VALUES (values) syntax. Multi-row VALUES clauses may need each INSERT on a separate line.
Q How are NULL values handled?
SQL NULL values become empty cells in the CSV output.
Q Does it handle escaped quotes?
Yes, both single-quote doubling ('') and backslash-escaped quotes are handled.
Q Can it parse SELECT results?
No, only INSERT statements are supported. SELECT output should be exported directly from your database client.
Q How are multi-row INSERT statements handled?
Currently, each INSERT statement is parsed independently. Multi-value INSERT syntax is partially supported.

About This Tool

SQL to CSV is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.