[mysql] Easiest way to copy a table from one database to another?

What is the best method to copy the data from a table in one database to a table in another database when the databases are under different users?

I know that I can use

INSERT INTO database2.table2 SELECT * from database1.table1

But here the problem is that both database1 and database2 are under different MySQL users. So user1 can access database1 only and user2 can access database2 only. Any idea?

This question is related to mysql database

The answer is


First create the dump. Added the --no-create-info --no-create-db flags if table2 already exists:

mysqldump -u user1 -p database1 table1 > dump.sql

Then enter user1 password. Then:

sed -e 's/`table1`/`table2`/' dump.sql
mysql -u user2 -p database2 < dump.sql

Then enter user2 password.

Same as @helmors answer but the approach is more secure as passwords aren't exposed in raw text to the console (reverse-i-search, password sniffers, etc). Other approach is fine if it's executed from a script file with appropriate restrictions placed on it's permissions.


use below steps to copy and insert some columns from one database table to another database table-

  1. CREATE TABLE tablename ( columnname datatype (size), columnname datatype (size));

2.INSERT INTO db2.tablename SELECT columnname1,columnname2 FROM db1.tablename;


If your tables are on the same mysql server you can run the following

CREATE TABLE destination_db.my_table SELECT * FROM source_db.my_table;
ALTER TABLE destination_db.my_table ADD PRIMARY KEY (id); 
ALTER TABLE destination_db.my_table MODIFY COLUMN id INT AUTO_INCREMENT;

For me I need to specific schema to "information_schema.TABLES"

for example.

SELECT concat('CREATE TABLE new_db.', TABLE_NAME, ' LIKE old_db.', TABLE_NAME, ';') FROM information_schema.TABLES  WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = 'old_db';

I know this is old question, just answering so that anyone who lands here gets a better approach.

As of 5.6.10 you can do

CREATE TABLE new_tbl LIKE orig_tbl;

Refer documentation here: https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/create-table-like.html


CREATE TABLE db1.table1 SELECT * FROM db2.table1

where db1 is the destination and db2 is the source


Here is another easy way:

  1. use DB1; show create table TB1;
    • copy the syntax here in clipboard to create TB1 in DB2
  2. use DB2;
    • paste the syntax here to create the table TB1

INSERT INTO DB2.TB1 SELECT * from DB1.TB1;


Use MySql Workbench's Export and Import functionality. Steps:
1. Select the values you want

E.g. select * from table1; 
  1. Click on the Export button and save it as CSV.
  2. create a new table using similar columns as the first one

    E.g. create table table2 like table1; 
    
  3. select all from the new table

    E.g. select * from table2;  
    
  4. Click on Import and select the CSV file you exported in step 2

Sample of the Export and Import buttons in MySql Workbench


With MySQL Workbench you can use Data Export to dump just the table to a local SQL file (Data Only, Structure Only or Structure and Data) and then Data Import to load it into the other DB.

You can have multiple connections (different hosts, databases, users) open at the same time.


it's worked good for me

CREATE TABLE dbto.table_name like dbfrom.table_name;
insert into  dbto.table_name select * from dbfrom.table_name;

If you are using PHPMyAdmin, it could be really simple. Suppose you have following databases:

DB1 & DB2

DB1 have a table users which you like to copy to DB2

Under PHPMyAdmin, open DB1, then go to users table.

On this page, click on the "Operations" tab on the top right. Under Operations, look for section Copy table to (database.table):

& you are done!


One simple way to get all the queries you need is to use the data from information_schema and concat.

SELECT concat('CREATE TABLE new_db.', TABLE_NAME, ' LIKE old_db.', TABLE_NAME, ';') FROM `TABLES` WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = 'old_db';

You'll then get a list of results that looks like this:

CREATE TABLE new_db.articles LIKE old_db.articles;
CREATE TABLE new_db.categories LIKE old_db.categories;
CREATE TABLE new_db.users LIKE old_db.users;
...

You can then just run those queries.

However it won't work with MySQL Views. You can avoid them by appending AND TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE' from the initial query:


Is this something you need to do regularly, or just a one off?

You can do an export (eg using phpMyAdmin or similar) that will script out your table and its contents to a text file, then you could re-import that into the other Database.


create table destination_customer like sakila.customer(Database_name.tablename), this will only copy the structure of the source table, for data also to get copied with the structure do this create table destination_customer as select * from sakila.customer


MySql Workbench: Strongly Recommended

Database Migration Tool From MySql Workbench

This will easily handle migration problems. You can migrate selected tables of selected databases between MySql and SqlServer. You should give it a try definitely.


I use Navicat for MySQL...

It makes all database manipulation easy !

You simply select both databases in Navicat and then use.

 INSERT INTO Database2.Table1 SELECT * from Database1.Table1

IN xampp just export the required table as a .sql file and then import it to the required


If you have shell access you may use mysqldump to dump the content of database1.table1 and pipe it to mysql to database2. The problem here is that table1 is still table1.

mysqldump --user=user1 --password=password1 database1 table1 \
| mysql --user=user2 --password=password2 database2

Maybe you need to rename table1 to table2 with another query. On the other way you might use sed to change table1 to table2 between the to pipes.

mysqldump --user=user1 --password=password1 database1 table1 \
| sed -e 's/`table1`/`table2`/' \
| mysql --user=user2 --password=password2 database2

If table2 already exists, you might add the parameters to the first mysqldump which dont let create the table-creates.

mysqldump --no-create-info --no-create-db --user=user1 --password=password1 database1 table1 \
| sed -e 's/`table1`/`table2`/' \
| mysql --user=user2 --password=password2 database2

Try mysqldbcopy (documentation)

Or you can create a "federated table" on your target host. Federated tables allow you to see a table from a different database server as if it was a local one. (documentation)

After creating the federated table, you can copy data with the usual insert into TARGET select * from SOURCE