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Export and Import Data and Schema with SAP HANA Database Explorer

Use wizards or SQL statements to export and import data and schema using CSV, Apache Parquet, or binary formats.

Overview

🎓 beginner 10 min. SAP HANA CloudBeginnerSAP HANA Cloud SAP HANA DatabaseSAP HANASAP HANA Express Edition

You will learn

  • โœ”How to export and import data using the export and import data wizards, SQL statements export into and import from, and the download option in the SQL console results tab
  • โœ”How to export and import schema objects using export and import catalog wizards and the SQL statements export and import
  • โœ”How to use cloud storage providers as a target when exporting or importing
Unknown U Unknown July 9, 2026
Created by October 25, 2021
Contributors

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

  • An SAP HANA database such as SAP HANA Cloud free tier, or the SAP HANA, express edition that includes the SAP HANA database explorer
  • Data lake Files, Amazon AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure accounts will be needed for optional steps in this tutorial.
  • You have completed the first 3 tutorials in this group.

Steps

Intro

The following steps will demonstrate a few ways to export and import data such as the contents of tables or views as well how to export and import database schema or catalog objects.

A few differences between exporting and importing data and importing and exporting catalog objects are:

  • Data export and import works with one table or view
  • Catalog export or import works with more than one object at one time
  • Catalog export or import can include additional objects such as functions and procedures
  • Catalog export or import includes the SQL to recreate the object

Step 1 Export and import data
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The following tables list the different options available in the SAP HANA database explorer to export and import data from a single table or view.

Methods to export tables or views

MethodVersionTargetFormat(s)
Export from SQL consoleAlllocal computerCSV
Export data wizardSAP HANA Cloud, HANA databasedata lake Files, S3, Azure, GCS, Alibaba OSSCSV, Parquet, JSON (for document stores)
Export into statementSAP HANA Cloud, HANA databasedata lake Files, S3, Azure, GCS, Alibaba OSSCSV, Parquet, JSON (for document stores)
Export into statementSAP HANA on-premiseSAP HANA file systemCSV

Methods to import into tables

MethodVersionSourceFormat(s)Notes
Import data wizardAlllocal computerCSV1 GB max, 2 MB per row in SAP HANA Cloud, HANA database; 200 MB max SAP HANA on-premise
Import data wizardSAP HANA Cloud, HANA databasedata lake Files, S3, Azure, GCS, Alibaba OSSCSV, Parquet, JSON (for document stores)Target table can be created
Import data wizardSAP HANA Cloud, HANA databasedata lake Files, local computer, S3, Azure, GCS, Alibaba OSSESRI shapefilesAn example of importing an ESRI shapefile can be found in Try Out Multi-Model Functionality with the SAP HANA Database Explorer tutorial.
Import data wizardSAP HANA on-premiseSAP HANA file systemCSVTarget table can be created
Import from statementSAP HANA Cloud, HANA databasedata lake Files, S3, Azure, GCS, Alibaba OSSCSV, Parquet, JSON (for document stores)
Import from statementSAP HANA on-premiseSAP HANA file systemCSV
Insert into table name select from statementAlllocal or remote tablesselect statement

The following steps will attempt to demonstrate an export and import of data from the maintenance table using the download option from the SQL console and the import data wizard.

  1. Enter the SQL statement below.

    SQL
    SELECT * FROM MAINTENANCE;

    Left-click on the download toolbar item.

    Download
    Download

    Choose Download.

    Download options
    Download options

    There is a setting that controls the number of results displayed which may need to be adjusted for tables with larger results.

    Maximum rows to display setting
    Maximum rows to display setting

  2. Enter the SQL statement below to delete the rows in the table. They will be added back in the next sub-step.

    SQL
    DELETE FROM MAINTENANCE;
  3. Right-click on the maintenance table and choose Import Data.

    Open Import Data Wizard
    Open Import Data Wizard

    Browse to the previously downloaded CSV file and complete the wizard.

    Choose file to import
    Choose file to import

    The header row in the data.csv file is used to set the initial values of the source column to database column mappings.

    Choose file to import
    Choose file to import

    Complete the wizard.

    import succeeded
    import succeeded

    After completing the wizard, the contents of the maintenance table should now be the same as it was before the previously executed delete statement.

  4. With SAP HANA, express edition, the following statements can be executed to export and import from a directory on the SAP HANA file system assuming that the directory exists and the user hxeadm has permission to access it.

    SQL
    EXPORT INTO '/tmp/export/maintenance.csv' FROM MAINTENANCE WITH COLUMN LIST IN FIRST ROW;
    DELETE FROM MAINTENANCE;
    ALTER SYSTEM ALTER CONFIGURATION ('indexserver.ini', 'system') set ('import_export', 'csv_import_path_filter') = '/tmp/export' WITH RECONFIGURE;
    IMPORT FROM CSV FILE '/tmp/export/maintenance.csv' INTO MAINTENANCE WITH COLUMN LIST IN FIRST ROW ERROR LOG 'error_log.txt' FAIL ON INVALID DATA;
Step 2 Use cloud storage services for export and import (optional)
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Step 3 Use data lake Files for export and import from an SAP HANA Cloud, SAP HANA database (optional)
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Step 4 Use data lake Files for export and import from an SAP HANA Cloud, data lake Relational Engine database (optional)
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Step 5 Use Google Cloud Storage (GCS) for data exports and imports (optional)
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Step 6 Export and import schema or catalog objects
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Step 7 Use Azure cloud storage for exports and imports of catalog objects (optional)
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Step 8 Use Amazon Web Services (AWS) S3 for exports and imports of catalog objects (optional)
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Step 9 Knowledge check
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Resources

Discussion

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Steps
Step 1 of 9
1. Export and import data 2. Use cloud storage services for export and import (optional) 3. Use data lake Files for export and import from an SAP HANA Cloud, SAP HANA database (optional) 4. Use data lake Files for export and import from an SAP HANA Cloud, data lake Relational Engine database (optional) 5. Use Google Cloud Storage (GCS) for data exports and imports (optional) 6. Export and import schema or catalog objects 7. Use Azure cloud storage for exports and imports of catalog objects (optional) 8. Use Amazon Web Services (AWS) S3 for exports and imports of catalog objects (optional) 9. Knowledge check

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