.. _import_export_data:

**********************************
`Import/Export Data Dialog`:index:
**********************************

Use the *Import/Export data* dialog to copy data from a table to a file, or copy
data from a file into a table.

The *Import/Export data* dialog organizes the import/export of data through the
*General*, *Options* and *Columns* tabs.

.. image:: images/import_export_general.png
    :alt: Import Export data dialog general tab
    :align: center

Use the fields in the *General* tab to specify import and export preferences:

* Move the *Import/Export* switch to the *Import* position to specify that the
  server should import data to a table from a file. The default is *Import*.

* Enter the name of the source or target file in the *Filename* field.
  Optionally, select the *Browse* icon (ellipsis) to the right to navigate
  into a directory and select a file.

* Use the drop-down listbox in the *Format* field to specify the file type.
  Select:

  * *binary* for a .bin file.
  * *csv* for a .csv file.
  * *text* for a .txt file.

* Use the drop-down listbox in the *Encoding* field to specify the type of
  character encoding.

* use the drop-down listbox in the *On Error* field to specify how to behave
  when encountering an error converting a columns input value into its data type.
  An error_action value of stop means fail the command, while ignore means discard
  the input row and continue with the next one. The default is stop. This option is
  available from PG/EPAS version 17 and above.

* use the drop-down listbox in the *Log Verbosity* field to specify the amount
  of messages emitted by a COPY command: default or verbose. This is currently
  used in Import only when ON_ERROR option is set to ignore. This option is
  available from PG/EPAS version 17 and above.

.. image:: images/import_export_options.png
    :alt: Import Export data dialog options tab
    :align: center

* Use the fields in the *Options* tab to specify additional information:

   * Move the *Header* switch to the *Yes* position to include the table header
     with the data rows. If you include the table header, the first row of the
     file will contain the column names.
   * Move the *Freeze* switch to the *Yes* position to requests copying the
     data with rows already frozen, just as they would be after running the
     VACUUM FREEZE command.
   * If you are exporting data, specify the delimiter that will separate the
     columns within the target file in the *Delimiter* field. The separating
     character can be a colon, semicolon, a vertical bar, or a tab.
   * Specify a quoting character used in the *Quote* field. Quoting can be
     applied to string columns only (i.e. numeric columns will not be quoted)
     or all columns regardless of data type. The character used for quoting can
     be a single quote or a double quote.
   * Specify a character that should appear before a data character that matches
     the *QUOTE* value in the *Escape* field.
   * Use the *NULL String* field to specify a string that will represent a null
     value within the source or target file.
   * Use the *Default String* field to specify a string that will represent a default value.
     Each time the string is found in the input file, the default value of the corresponding
     column will be used. This option is available from PG/EPAS version 16 and above.

Click the *Columns* tab to continue.

.. image:: images/import_export_columns.png
    :alt: Import Export data dialog columns tab
    :align: center

Use the fields in the *Columns* tab to select the columns that will be imported
or exported:

* Click inside the *Columns to export/import* field to deselect one or more
  columns from the drop-down listbox. To delete a selection, click the *x* to
  the left of the column name. Click an empty spot inside the field to access
  the drop-down list.

* If enabled, click inside the *Force Quote columns* field to forces quoting
  to be used for all non-NULL values in each specified column. NULL output is
  never quoted. To delete a column, click the *x* to the left of the column name.

* If enabled, click inside the *NOT NULL columns* field to select one or more
  columns that will not be checked for a NULL value. To delete a column, click
  the *x* to the left of the column name.

* If enabled, click inside the *NULL columns* field to match the specified columns
  values against the null string, even if it has been quoted, and if a match is
  found set the value to NULL. To delete a column, click the *x* to the left of the
  column name.

After completing the *Import/Export data* dialog, click the *OK* button to
perform the import or export. pgAdmin will notify you when the background
process completes:

.. image:: images/import_export_complete.png
    :alt: Import Export data completion notification
    :align: center


Use the *View Processes* button on the notification to open the *Process
Watcher* and review detailed information about the execution of the command
that performed the import or export:

Use the **End Process** button to end the Import/Export process.

.. image:: images/import_export_pw.png
    :alt: Import Export data process watcher
    :align: center

.. note:: If you are running *pgAdmin* in *Server Mode* you can click on the |sm_icon| icon in the process watcher window to open the file location in the Storage Manager. You can use the :ref:`Storage Manager <storage_manager>` to download the exported file on the client machine .


.. |sm_icon| image:: images/sm_icon.png