I am trying to import a database of notable quotations. It is really quite simple, but I'm finding importing via phpMyAdmin is (IMHO) erroneous.

The database came from FileMaker Pro 7, and there are no options for changing the output. There are two choices: 1) tabs between fields (with no opportunity to include the tab character in a field), and 2) CSV, which double-quotes fields and has commas in-between, which apparently doubles embedded quotes.

I am using UTF-8 bin as the character set, and as the encoding for all fields.

The problem is that numerous punctuation characters appear to terminate the reading of a field, whether imported as a TAB file or as a CSV file.

For example, importing a quote with a "Context" field of:
        The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

results in a field containing:
        The Hitchhiker

whether I use TAB or CSV. Note that this in an ASCII single quote character, not something exotic. I have also noted this on fields that contain "curly quotes."

I am using phpMyAdmin's "CSV using LOAD DATA" option, checking "Replace table data with file", terminating fields with a comma, enclosing fields with double quotes, and blanking (or leaving the '\', it doesn't matter) the "Fields escaped by" field.

It seems to me that using CSV, with double-quoted, comma separated fields should tell the import process, "Hands off until you see another double quote!" And that using TAB format, nothing between TAB characters should be interpreted. Why are characters inside the double quotes or tabs being interpreted?

I have not tried mysqlimport from the command line, assuming (perhaps incorrectly) that phpMyAdmin was simply passing things along, and not interpreting them.

Ah, one light in the tunnel: my "Quote" field was TEXT. Changing it to BLOB preserves non-ASCII characters, but I still see the strange behaviour noted above with a single quote, which was in a VARCHAR(256) UTF8 field.

Thanks for whatever help you can offer!

:::: My pants just went on a wild rampage through a Long Island Bowling Alley! -- Zippy the Pinhead
:::: Jan Steinman ::::


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