Export data with the UNLOAD statement

The UNLOAD statement is similar to the OUTPUT statement in that they both export query results to a file. However, the UNLOAD statement exports data more efficiently in a text format. The UNLOAD statement exports with one row per line, with values separated by a comma delimiter.

Use the UNLOAD statement to unload data when you want to:

export query results if performance is an issue
store output in text format
embed an export command in an application
export data to a file on a client computer

Impact on the database

If you have a choice between using the OUTPUT statement, UNLOAD statement, or UNLOAD TABLE statement, choose the UNLOAD TABLE statement for performance reasons.

To use the UNLOAD statement, the user must have the permissions required to execute the SELECT that is specified within the UNLOAD statement.

For more information about controlling who can use the UNLOAD statement, see -gl dbeng12/dbsrv12 server option.

The UNLOAD statement is executed at the current isolation level.

Example

Using the SQL Anywhere sample database, you can unload a subset of the Employees table to a text file named employee_data.csv by executing the following command:

UNLOAD 
SELECT * FROM Employees 
WHERE State = 'GA'
TO 'employee_data.csv'
QUOTE '"';

Because it is the database server that unloads the result set, employee_data.csv specifies a file on the database server computer.

Export data with the UNLOAD statement

Impact on the database

Example

See also