I am trying to import various pipe delimited files using php 5.2 into a mysql database. I am importing various formats of piped data and my end goal is to try put the different data into a suitably normalised data structure but need to do some post processing on the data to put it into my model correctly.
I thought the best way to do this is to import into a table called buffer and map out the data then import into various tables. I am planning to create a table just called “buffer” with fields that represent each columns (there will be up to 80 columns) then apply some data transforms/mapping to get it to the right table.
My planned approach is to create a base class that generically reads the the pipe data into the buffer table then extend this class by having a function that contain various prepared statements to do the SQL magic, allowing me the flexibility to check the format is the same by reading the headers on the first row and changing it for one format.
My questions are:
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Whats the best way to do step one of reading the data from a local file saved into the table? I’m not too sure if i should use the LOAD DATA of mysql (as suggested in Best Practice : Import CSV to MYSQL Database using PHP 5.x) or just fopen then insert the data line by line.
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is this the best approach? How have other people approach this?
- Is there anything in the zen framework that may help?
Additional : I am planning to do this in a scheduled task.
In the end i used dataload AND modified this http://codingpad.maryspad.com/2007/09/24/converting-csv-to-sql-using-php/ for different situations.