Step 1: Preparing Source Data

You can import data in TEXT, CSV, or FIXED format from a remote server to GaussDB. This tutorial uses data in CSV format as an example. The method is the same for data in TEXT and FIXED format except that the parameter settings of foreign tables are different. For details, see Importing Data in Parallel Using Foreign Tables.

Preparing Source Data Files

To demonstrate how to import multiple files, this tutorial uses the following three CSV data files as an example. Generally, source data files are exported from a database. In this tutorial, the CSV source data files are manually created.

Data file product_info0.csv

The file contains the following data:

100,XHDK-A,2017-09-01,A,2017 Shirt Women,red,M,328,2017-09-04,715,good!
205,KDKE-B,2017-09-01,A,2017 T-shirt Women,pink,L,584,2017-09-05,40,very good!
300,JODL-X,2017-09-01,A,2017 T-shirt men,red,XL,15,2017-09-03,502,Bad.
310,QQPX-R,2017-09-02,B,2017 jacket women,red,L,411,2017-09-05,436,It's nice.
150,ABEF-C,2017-09-03,B,2017 Jeans Women,blue,M,123,2017-09-06,120,good.

Data file product_info1.csv

The file contains the following data:

200,BCQP-E,2017-09-04,B,2017 casual pants men,black,L,997,2017-09-10,301,good quality.
250,EABE-D,2017-09-10,A,2017 dress women,black,S,841,2017-09-15,299,This dress fits well.
108,CDXK-F,2017-09-11,A,2017 dress women,red,M,85,2017-09-14,22,It's really amazing to buy.
450,MMCE-H,2017-09-11,A,2017 jacket women,white,M,114,2017-09-14,22,very good.
260,OCDA-G,2017-09-12,B,2017 woolen coat women,red,L,2004,2017-09-15,826,Very comfortable.

Data file product_info2.csv

The file contains the following data:

980,"ZKDS-J",2017-09-13,"B","2017 Women's Cotton Clothing","red","M",112,,,
98,"FKQB-I",2017-09-15,"B","2017 new shoes men","red","M",4345,2017-09-18,5473
50,"DMQY-K",2017-09-21,"A","2017 pants men","red","37",28,2017-09-25,58,"good","good","good"
80,"GKLW-l",2017-09-22,"A","2017 Jeans Men","red","39",58,2017-09-25,72,"Very comfortable."
30,"HWEC-L",2017-09-23,"A","2017 shoes women","red","M",403,2017-09-26,607,"good!"
40,"IQPD-M",2017-09-24,"B","2017 new pants Women","red","M",35,2017-09-27,52,"very good."
50,"LPEC-N",2017-09-25,"B","2017 dress Women","red","M",29,2017-09-28,47,"not good at all."
60,"NQAB-O",2017-09-26,"B","2017 jacket women","red","S",69,2017-09-29,70,"It's beautiful."
70,"HWNB-P",2017-09-27,"B","2017 jacket women","red","L",30,2017-09-30,55,"I like it so much"
80,"JKHU-Q",2017-09-29,"C","2017 T-shirt","red","M",90,2017-10-02,82,"very good."

CSV is short for Comma Separated Values. A CSV file is similar to a TXT or DOC file, which is a type of text files. A CSV file is composed of records that are separated as columns by tabs. Each record shares the same column sequence. In Windows, CSV files can be opened in different applications, such as Notepad and Notepad++.

The following describes how to generate a CSV file in Windows:

Create a text file and open it in Notepad++. Copy the sample data into it. Then, check the total number of rows and check whether the data of rows is correctly separated.
Choose Encoding > Encode in UTF-8 without BOM.
Choose File > Save as.
In the displayed dialog box, enter the file name and click Save.

To identify the file type, use the file name extension .csv when entering the file name.

Uploading Source Data Files to a Data Server

Log in to the server 192.168.0.90 storing source data files (also known as the data server or GDS server).
Run the following command to create a directory named /input_data:
```
mkdir -p /input_data
```
Use MobaXterm to upload source data files to the created directory.