Question

Is there a way to import excel data into datatables? My requirement here is, I want to export datatables data into xls/csv, make bulk changes and import it back to datatables (mysql backend). Is there any plugin for this import?? Please advise. Thanks in advance.

I want to do this import and export on my php webpage, not from mysql directly. Basically, I want to give users an option to bulk download and upload of data

Answer 1

You can export to CSV:

SELECT *
INTO OUTFILE 'filename.csv'
FIELDS TERMINATED BY ','
OPTIONALLY ENCLOSED BY '"'
ESCAPED BY '\\'
LINES TERMINATED BY '\n'
FROM tablename

You can import from CSV:

LOAD DATA LOCAL 
INFILE 'filaneme.csv' INTO TABLE tablename
FIELDS TERMINATED BY ','
ENCLOSED BY '"'
LINES TERMINATED BY '\n'
(col1, col2, col3,...)

UPDATED
Here’s the general idea – write a header, loop through rows, return it with a text/csv MIME-TYPE

$rsResults = mysql_query($sql, $db) or die(mysql_error());
$out = '';

$fields = mysql_list_fields('database','table',$db);
$columns = mysql_num_fields($fields);

for ($i = 0; $i < $columns; $i++) {
    $l=mysql_field_name($fields, $i);
    $out .= '"'.$l.'",';
}

$out .="\n";

while ($l = mysql_fetch_array($rsResults)) {
    for ($i = 0; $i < $columns; $i++) {
        $out .='"'.$l["$i"].'",';
    }
    $out .="\n";
}

header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=table.csv");
header("Content-type: text/csv");

echo $out;

exit;