How to Connect Excel to PostgreSQL? Easy Ways to Load Data

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program included in the Microsoft Office Suite. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, Android, and iOS. It simplifies the creation of text and numeric grids, formulas calculations, graphing tools, pivot tables, and the VBA Macro programming language (Visual Basic for Applications). Simple and advanced arithmetic operations and functions can be used to numerically manipulate grids of numbers organized in rows and columns.

PostgreSQL, sometimes known as Postgres, is a free and open-source Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) that emphasizes extensibility and SQL conformance. Structured objects are used instead of documents to store data in PostgreSQL. It employs conventional SQL syntax and formatting.

There are a variety of methods for importing Excel data into a PostgreSQL database; some are simple, while others are more complicated, depending on the sort of data you receive and the format it is in. In this article, you will learn everything about Excel to PostgreSQL along with the process which you might want to carry out while using it to make the process run smoothly.

What is PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL, or Postgres, is a free, open-source Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) that focuses on extensibility and SQL compliance. It was first released on July 8, 1996, and was developed at the University of California, Berkeley. It was the Ignes database’s successor. Instead of storing data in the form of documents, PostgreSQL uses Structured objects. It uses the standard SQL syntax and style.

It’s written in C and has a monolithic architecture, which means all of the parts are connected and work in a logical order. It provides community assistance and further assistance to some of its paid customers. Because of its novel backup systems, it is frequently employed in the Healthcare, Finance, and Industrial industries.

Key Features of PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL has some distinguishing characteristics that make it a viable alternative to other standard RDBMSs. The following are some of these characteristics:

• PostgreSQL can handle a wide range of data, documents, and customization kinds.
• It features a Monolithic Architecture, which means that all of the components function together automatically.
• It’s perfect for transactional workflows like those found in bank systems, risk assessments, BI (Business Intelligence), and powering a variety of business applications.
• Storage is reliable because of various fail-safes and redundancy.
• Since it is open-source, anyone can utilize all of its features for free.
• Since its processing capacity depends on the system it runs on, it has limited scalability.
• It has a strong Access Control System with features such as row and column level security and multi-factor authentication with certificates.
• It is ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability) compliant and runs on major operating systems.

To learn more about PostgreSQL, you can check the official website here.

What is Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel is a Spreadsheet Application that is part of the Microsoft Office Suite. It runs on Windows, Mac OS X, Android, and iOS devices. It makes text and numeric grids, calculation of formulas, graphing tools, pivot tables, and the VBA Macro programming language easier to create (Visual Basic for Applications). To numerically manipulate grids of numbers organized in rows and columns, simple and sophisticated arithmetic operations and functions can be utilized.

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program that may be used to create tables and record data. The information can range from a daily planner to financial information about a company. It also facilitates data analysis and the production of visualizations based on spreadsheet data.

Key Features of Microsoft Excel

• Paste Special: When copying data from one cell to another, the user can also copy formatting, value, formula, comments, and other items, as well as their combinations, depending on the user’s needs.
• Conditional Formatting: This feature draws attention to trends in your data as they appear in your spreadsheet.
• Excel Pivot Tables: These can be used to sort, count, total, or average data from a single large spreadsheet and display it in whatever way the user chooses in a new table.
• Add Multiple Rows: Users can add multiple rows and columns to their spreadsheets at any moment in Microsoft Excel.
• Print Optimisation: Print Preview, Fit to One Page, Altering Margins, Print Selection, Printing Headers, Portrait vs. Landscape, and Spreadsheet Design are all options for printing Excel sheets to your satisfaction.
• Vertical/Horizontal Formula Extention: Excel’s biggest feature is its ability to scale vertically and horizontally. Excel will conduct the necessary calculations any number of times once the formula is correct.
• Index-Match: One of the most powerful Excel function combinations is Index-Match. It can be used to look up a value in a large Data Table and return its equivalent in the table.
• Filters: Microsoft Excel provides capabilities that let you analyze data based on your own requirements. Filters are the terms for these functionalities.
• Flash Fill: While copying data, Excel offers suggestions for making specific changes. Consider the following scenario: you have two columns of names and you need to produce email addresses for each of them. While you’re selecting an email address for one row, Excel will propose email addresses for all of the other rows based on their names.

For further information on Microsoft Excel, check the official website here.

Methods to Connect Excel to PostgreSQL

There are many methods to transfer data from Excel to PostgreSQL. You will gain an understanding of two of them.

Method 1: Integrating Excel to PostgreSQL using ODBC Drivers 

• Step 1: Install ODBC Drivers for PostgreSQL
• Step 2: Configure Postgres ODBC Driver in Excel
• Step 3: Authorise Connection with PostgreSQL
• Step 4: Load Data in Microsoft Excel

Get & Transform (Power Query) can be used to connect to PostgreSQL from Excel using ODBC. This approach presupposes you’ve installed a PostgreSQL ODBC Driver.

Step 1: Install ODBC Drivers for PostgreSQL

The first step in Excel to PostgreSQL data transfer is to install ODBC Driver. The PostgreSQL ODBC 64-bit driver is available for download. On the machine where the Secure Agent is installed, install the PostgreSQL ODBC driver.

Step 2: Configure Postgres ODBC Driver in Excel

Expand the Get Data drop-down box after clicking Data in Excel. Select From Other Sources > From ODBC from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Authorise Connection with PostgreSQL

Choose your data source name in the From ODBC dialogue (DSN). You can expand the Advanced Options dialogue box and input the connection string for your Data Source if you haven’t yet established your ODBC Driver (without credentials, which are defined in the credentials dialogue box in the next step). You can also enter a SQL query that will be performed immediately after connecting to the data source. Click the OK button.

Select Database and input your credentials in the dialog box, then click Connect if you’re using a database Username or Password. Select Default or Custom and press Connect if your database is not password-protected or if you’ve previously entered your credentials in the ODBC Data Source settings.

Step 4: Load Data in Microsoft Excel

Select the table from which you wish to retrieve data in the pop-up box and click on Load.

The table’s data will be displayed in an Excel spreadsheet, where you can interact with it further.

You have successfully completed Excel to PostgreSQL data transfer via ODBC Driver.

Method 2: Integrating Excel to PostgreSQL via CSV Files 

• Step 1: Excel File Conversion
• Step 2: CSV File Connection
• Step 3: Data Import

Step 1: Excel File Conversion

The first step in the CSV method in Excel to PostgreSQL data transfer is to Excel FIle Conversion. Open your file in Microsoft Excel if the file extension is xls or xlsx. This will need to be converted to a CSV file, which is a simple process. Simply Save As and modify the “Save as type:” to “CSV (*.csv)” before clicking Save. There is no need to change the file name to .csv because it will change automatically.

Step 2: CSV File Connection

Click Create and then Connection after right-clicking your Database Connection (or anyplace if your connections are empty). On the left, make sure the All tab is chosen, then scroll down to CSV. Now click Next.

Select the folder where you saved your CSV file from Microsoft Excel by clicking Browse. You’re choosing a folder rather than a file. All CSV files in that folder will be loaded by the connection. Finish by clicking the Finish button.

You should now notice a new connection, which is configured similarly to a standard connection. Each of the CSV files in your folder will be organized into a table with columns.

Step 3: Data Import

Data Import is the last step in the process of Excel to PostgreSQL data transfer. After you’ve established the connection, you may query the data using SQL syntax, just like any other table. This data can now be imported into your PostgreSQL Table. Select Export Data from the context menu of the table you want to import into PostgreSQL.

Click Next after selecting Database. Change the target container to the schema in PostgreSQL where your table resides. Click on the OK button.

Choose the target (table) for the data to be imported. Set the target column for each data column by clicking Columns. This will map automatically if you have headers in your data that match the table columns. Click the OK button. Now, Next should be selected.

Set the connection and Data Load options. Remove the option for truncating the target table if you only want to add data to the table rather than rewriting it. Now, Next should be selected.

After you’ve double-checked that the source and target are correct, click Start to begin the import.

The data from your PostgreSQL table is now available for selection.

You have successfully completed Excel to PostgreSQL data transfer via CSV files.

Conclusion

This article teaches you about Excel to PostgreSQL. It provides in-depth knowledge about the concepts behind every step to help you understand and implement them efficiently. If you want to transfer data into your desired Database/destination, then Hevo Data is the right choice! 

Visit our Website to Explore Hevo

Hevo Data provides users with a simpler platform for integrating data from 150+ sources such as Google Sheets, FTP, etc. for Analysis. It is a No-code Data Pipeline that can help you combine data from multiple sources. You can use it to transfer data from multiple data sources into your Data Warehouses, Databases such as PostgreSQL, or a destination of your choice. It helps you carry out ETL processes like Excel to PostgreSQL. It provides you with a consistent and reliable solution to managing data in real-time, ensuring that you always have Analysis-ready data in your desired destination.

Want to take Hevo for a spin? Sign Up for a 14-day free trial and experience the feature-rich Hevo suite firsthand. You can also have a look at our unbeatable pricing that will help you choose the right plan for your business needs!

Share your experience of learning about Excel to PostgreSQL! Let us know in the comments section below!