Create table question

This is my first mySQL project and it's a conversion of a system
written in Retrieve 4GL. The main data table has got 197 fields - far
too many to enter manually, so I'm looking for a short cut.

If I can get hold of a CSV file of the old data, where the first row
contains the field names, is there a way of creating the table AND
importing the data at the same time - or even just creating the table
and dealing with the data later?

Unless I'm missing something, it doesn't seem that mySQLImport can do
this, nor does phpMyAdmin as far as I can see. (btw, MS Access can,
annoyingly). And I haven't managed to find the answer by googling.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks
Dave

DaveGriffiths70@gmail.com says...
> This is my first mySQL project and it's a conversion of a system
> written in Retrieve 4GL. The main data table has got 197 fields - far
> too many to enter manually, so I'm looking for a short cut.

If your main table has 197 fields, it is highly likely that you have a
seriously flawed design.

GM

Dave G wrote:
> If I can get hold of a CSV file of the old data, where the first row
> contains the field names, is there a way of creating the table AND
> importing the data at the same time - or even just creating the table
> and dealing with the data later?

I would use a scripting language like Perl or awk to parse the CSV file
and generate a CREATE TABLE statement. Then run the output of that
script using the mysql command-line client.

I agree with Geoff that a table with 197 columns is probably not a good
schema design. But that's not what you asked for help with.

Regards,
Bill K.

I agree about 197 fields - but I'm stuck with it. The Retrieve 4GL
system that this data is coming from is still in use. And at the time
of writing I've never even seen it !!

Looks like a bit of fiddling around to create this table - never mind,
it has only got to be done once.

Dave