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Overview

When you export data from a table to a CSV file using the COPY TO command, you can include or skip the header. Oxla provides three options for handling headers: HEADER OFF, HEADER ON, and HEADER MATCH.

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Syntax

The syntax for COPY TO with HEADER is as follows: 
COPY table_name TO 'file_path' (Header_Syntax);
Parameters in the syntax include:
  • table_name: The table containing the data to be exported.
  • file_path: The CSV file location where the data will be saved.
  • Header_Syntax: The specified header options.

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Header Options

  • HEADER OFF
This option will not skip the header of the CSV file. The available syntax is: 
HEADER OFF
HEADER FALSE
HEADER 0
This option is a default behaviour if HEADER is not provided.
  • HEADER ON
This option skips the header of the CSV file and follows only the previously specified columns. The available syntax is: 
HEADER ON
HEADER TRUE
HEADER 1

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Examples

First, create a “personal_details” table. 
CREATE TABLE personal_details (
  id int,
  first_name text,
  last_name text,
  gender text
);
INSERT INTO personal_details 
    (id, first_name, last_name, gender) 
VALUES 
    (1,'Mark','Wheeler','M'),
    (2,'Tom','Hanks','M'),
    (3,'Jane','Hopper','F'),
    (4,'Emily','Byers','F'),
    (5,'Lucas','Sinclair','M');
The table and data were created successfully. 
COMPLETE
INSERT 0 5
Now, let’s explore some cases of COPY TO with different header options:

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Case #1: HEADER OFF

Please ensure that the directory where you save the file has a write permissions.
  1. Run the query below to export the table.
COPY personal_details TO '/home/acer/Documents/personalinfo.csv';
  1. You will get the following output, indicating that the table has successfully exported to the CSV file.
--
(0 rows)
  1. The data in the table is copied directly to the personalinfo file without considering the first row as a header.
1,'Mark','Wheeler','M'
2,'Tom','Hanks','M'
3,'Jane','Hopper','F'
4,'Emily','Byers','F'
5,'Lucas','Sinclair','M'
To include headers, use the HEADER ON option.

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Case #2: HEADER ON

  1. Run the query below to export the table.
COPY personal_details TO '/home/acer/Documents/personalinfo.csv' (HEADER ON);
  1. You will get a successful output below.
--
(0 rows)
  1. In this case, the header from the table will be included in the CSV file.
id,first_name,last_name,gender
1,'Mark','Wheeler','M'
2,'Tom','Hanks','M'
3,'Jane','Hopper','F'
4,'Emily','Byers','F'
5,'Lucas','Sinclair','M'