sqlite(1) A command line interface for SQLite

SYNOPSIS

sqlite [options] filename [SQL]

SUMMARY

sqlite is a terminal-based front-end to the SQLite library. It enables you to type in queries interactively, issue them to SQLite and see the results. Alternatively, you can specify SQL code on the command-line. In addition it provides a number of meta-commands.

DESCRIPTION

This manual page documents briefly the sqlite command. This manual page was written for the Debian GNU/Linux distribution because the original program does not have a manual page.

GETTING STARTED

To start the sqlite program, just type "sqlite" followed by the name the file that holds the SQLite database. If the file does not exist, a new one is created automatically. The sqlite program will then prompt you to enter SQL. Type in SQL statements (terminated by a semicolon), press "Enter" and the SQL will be executed.

For example, to create a new SQLite database named "ex1" with a single table named "tbl1", you might do this: 

$ sqlite ex1
SQLite version 2.0.0
Enter ".help" for instructions
sqlite> create table tbl1(one varchar(10), two smallint);
sqlite> insert into tbl1 values('hello!',10);
sqlite> insert into tbl1 values('goodbye', 20);
sqlite> select * from tbl1;
hello!|10
goodbye|20
sqlite>

SQLITE META-COMMANDS

Most of the time, sqlite just reads lines of input and passes them on to the SQLite library for execution. But if an input line begins with a dot ("."), then that line is intercepted and interpreted by the sqlite program itself. These "dot commands" are typically used to change the output format of queries, or to execute certain prepackaged query statements.

For a listing of the available dot commands, you can enter ".help" at any time. For example: 

sqlite> .help
.dump ?TABLE? ...      Dump the database in an text format
.echo ON|OFF           Turn command echo on or off
.exit                  Exit this program
.explain ON|OFF        Turn output mode suitable for EXPLAIN on or off.
                       "off" will revert to the output mode that was
                       previously in effect
.header(s) ON|OFF      Turn display of headers on or off
.help                  Show this message
.indices TABLE         Show names of all indices on TABLE
.mode MODE             Set mode to one of "line(s)", "column(s)",
                       "insert", "list", or "html"
.mode insert TABLE     Generate SQL insert statements for TABLE
.nullvalue STRING      Print STRING instead of nothing for NULL data
.output FILENAME       Send output to FILENAME
.output stdout         Send output to the screen
.prompt MAIN CONTINUE  Replace the standard prompts
                       "sqlite > " and "   ...> "
                       with the strings MAIN and CONTINUE
                       CONTINUE is optional.
.quit                  Exit this program
.read FILENAME         Execute SQL in FILENAME
.reindex ?TABLE?       Rebuild indices
.schema ?TABLE?        Show the CREATE statements
.separator STRING      Change separator string for "list" mode
.show                  Show the current values for the following:
                       .echo
                       .explain
                       .mode
                       .nullvalue
                       .output
                       .separator
                       .width
.tables ?PATTERN?      List names of tables matching a pattern
.timeout MS            Try opening locked tables for MS milliseconds
.width NUM NUM ...     Set column widths for "column" mode
sqlite>

OPTIONS

The program has the following options:
-init file
Read in and process 'file', which contains "dot commands". You can use this file to initialize display settings.
-html
Set output mode to HTML.
-list
Set output mode to 'list'.
-line
Set output mode to 'line'.
-column
Set output mode to 'column'.
-separator separator
Specify which output field separator for 'list' mode to use. Default is '|'.
-nullvalue string
When a null is encountered, print 'string'. Default is no string.
-[no]header
Turn headers on or off. Default is off.
-echo
Print commands before execution.

OUTPUT MODE

The SQLite program has different output modes, which define the way the output (from queries) is formatted.

In 'list' mode, which is the default, one record per line is output, each field separated by the separator specified with the -separator option or .separator command.

In 'line' mode, each column is output on its own line, records are separated by blank lines.

In HTML mode, an XHTML table is generated.

In 'column' mode, one record per line is output, aligned neatly in colums.

INIT FILE

sqlite can be initialized using resource files. These can be combined with command line arguments to set up sqlite exactly the way you want it. Initialization proceeds as follows:

o The defaults of 

mode            = LIST
separator       = "|"
main prompt     = "sqlite> "
continue prompt = "   ...> "

are established.

o If a file .sqliterc can be found in the user's home directory, it is read and processed. It should only contain "dot commands". If the file is not found or cannot be read, processing continues without notification.

o If a file is specified on the command line with the -init option, it is processed in the same manner as .sqliterc

o All other command line options are processed

o The database is opened and you are now ready to begin.

AUTHOR

This manual page was originally written by Andreas Rottmann <[email protected]>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others).

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