rrent RDBMS, combine an easy-to-use interface with robust features suitable for databases of any size. At the same time, MS SQL is more costly and restricted in terms of license than PostgreSQL. Additionally, when it comes to customization and implementation of the database management system, PostgreSQL offers significant benefits such as cross-platform compatibility and open source. This is why many businesses transfer data from SQL Server to PostgreSQL.
The migration of a database should be planned in the following order:
– Export source table structures using data definition language (DDL) statements
– Convert these statements to the format of the target DBMS (delete “SET ANSI NULLS ON”, “SET QUOTED IDENTIFIER ON”, and other particular patterns; replace the default SQL Server schema “dbo” with the PostgreSQL equivalent “public”; update data types that PostgreSQL does not allow; etc).
– Load the PostgreSQL database with the revised DDL statements.
– Export data from Microsoft SQL Server into comma separated values (csv) files
– Adjust as required
– Import the data into a PostgreSQL database (COPY table name> FROM csv file location> DELIMITER ‘,’ CSV)
– Convert Microsoft SQL database stored procedures, views, and triggers to SQL statements and source code
– Convert these SQL statements and their source code to PostgreSQL format and import them into the database.
As can be seen, the MS SQL to PostgreSQL conversion technique is rather involved, and doing it manually may take some time and effort. Database specialists propose automating the procedure and avoiding the danger of data loss or damage by using specialized database conversion solutions.
MS SQL to PostgreSQL conversion by Intelligent Converters is one such utility. Since 2001, Intelligent Converters has been a software development firm specialized in database conversion, migration, and synchronization. The SQL to PostgreSQL converter is simple to use, even for clients who lack database management expertise. Simultaneously, it is capable of completing exceedingly complex database migration projects owing to its fast performance reading and writing data and comprehensive set of capabilities:
– all SQL Server and PostgreSQL versions are supported
– the command line interface enables automated and scheduled database conversions
– the option to integrate or synchronize an existing PostgreSQL database with data stored in Microsoft SQL
– the ability to convert partial data using SELECT queries (it is possible to filter particular columns, records or even transform the data before importing it into PostgreSQL database)
– bespoke mapping (option to change column name, type, default value and NULL-attribute of any column or exclude particular columns from conversion)
– Support for Unicode
The conversion parameters may be saved in a profile for batch mode execution of the application.
Additionally, the MS SQL to PostgreSQL converter supports exporting the source database to a local script file. This file includes SQL statements that construct tables, indexes, and constraints, as well as statements that populate tables with data. The database administrator may verify the file to ensure that the conversion procedure was successful before importing it into PostgreSQL using one of the usual tools:
1) Using the following line, the PostgreSQL console client (psql) may import a script file.
psql -h host -d database -U user -f script file
2) administrative tool accessible through the web These instructions will allow phpPgAdmin to import a script file.
o PostgreSQL database selection
o Click on the “SQL” button.Just click the “Choose File” option and go to the SQL script file you want to use.
o Click the “Execute” button
MS SQL to PostgreSQL converter has a free trial version with restricted functionality that enables you to determine if the software is appropriate for your conversion project. The registered version includes unlimited support and a one-year subscription to the software’s upgrades.