Execute several .sql files in a single transaction using PostgreSQL and bash

Question

Say I have the files:

file1.sql
file2.sql
file3.sql

I need all three files to be executed in a single transaction. I\'m looking for a bash

Answer 1

FYI, for Windows command line:

FOR /F "usebackq" %A IN (`dir *.sql /b/a-d`) DO psql -f %A

Answer 2

You can also use the -1 or --single-transaction option to execute all your scripts in a transaction:

cat file*.sql | psql -1

Answer 3

I'd create new files for the startup (start transaction, set encoding etc) and finish (commit).

Then run something like:

cat startup.sql file*.sql finish.sql | psql dbname

Answer 4

Either use a sub-shell:

#!/bin/sh
 (echo "BEGIN;"; cat file1.sql; cat file2.sql; echo "COMMIT;") \
 | psql -U the_user the_database

#eof

or use a here-document:

#!/bin/sh
psql -U the_user the_database <<OMG
BEGIN;

\i file1.sql

\i file2.sql

COMMIT;
OMG

#eof

NOTE: in HERE-documents there will be no globbing, so file*sql will not be expanded. Shell-variables will be expanded, even within quotes.