How do I deal with semicolon in a cell when the file I am uploading semicolon delimited?

Question

I am using load data infile to upload a 2gig csv file into mysql and getting some warnings that indicate that some of the cells include a semicolon when the actual csv file I am uploading is semicolon separated.

I suppose that changing the delimiter from semicolon may be an option but I do not have control over the export I am working with. Not sure how to do this without a find replace which obviously wouldnt work as it would just replace the semicolon that needs to remain in the field it has been exported to.

Here is what I am using:

load data infile '/file/path/bigfile.csv'  
into table table_name fields terminated by ';'  
LINES TERMINATED BY '\r\n' ignore 1 lines 
(Column1, Column2, Column3, ....);

I guess the ultimate question is can you use a regex as a delimter when using load data infile...having problems finding this answer.

Answer 1

You have to mention the fields separated by in LOAD DATA command as:

LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE 'abc.csv' INTO TABLE abc
FIELDS TERMINATED BY **';'** 
ENCLOSED BY '"' 
LINES TERMINATED BY '\r\n'

FIELDS TERMINATED BY ' ; ' is the main part to edit in your case.

Also you might be change the delimiter from semicolon to something else..