MySQL command line import causes sql file to become empty

Question

I have a 8GB sql file called test.sql.

I am running this command to import it into my database called test_db.

mysql -u root -p test_db > test.sql

After a few minutes, the file test.sql is emptied so that it is 0KB.

I am unsure if this is normal and the file will be restored when the command is finished, or if something is wrong. It's been half an hour and I don't see any data imported yet.

Why is test.sql becoming emptied of it's contents when I run this MySQL import command?

I am on Ubuntu 14.04 and MySQL 5.7.13.

> is export, < is import

Ipor Sircer
– Ipor Sircer

2017-01-30 17:00:20 +00:00
Commented Jan 30, 2017 at 17:00 — Ipor Sircer
– Ipor Sircer, Commented Jan 30, 2017 at 17:00

Ike Walker · Accepted Answer · 2017-01-30 17:01:18Z

4

You're using the wrong chevron. Should be the left chevron (<) not the right chevron (>).

This is what you meant:

mysql -u root -p test_db < test.sql

answered Jan 30, 2017 at 17:01

Ike Walker

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2 Comments

Goose Over a year ago

Hmm, going to try this right now. In the mean time, what is the > chevron that I was using intended to do?

Ike Walker Over a year ago

> redirects output to a file, overwriting the file if it already exists.

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