isql

ODBC command-line SQL client

TLDR

Connect to data source

$ isql [dsn_name]

Connect with credentials

$ isql [dsn_name] [username] [password]

Connect with verbose error output

$ isql -v [dsn_name]

Run in batch mode (no headers)

$ isql -b [dsn_name] < [query.sql]

Use custom column delimiter (comma)

$ isql -d, [dsn_name]

Output as HTML table

$ isql -w [dsn_name]

Use column headers with tab delimiter (hex)

$ isql -b -c -x0x09 [dsn_name]

SYNOPSIS

isql [options] dsn [user] [password]

isql is an ODBC command-line SQL client included with unixODBC. It connects to any database with an ODBC driver using a DSN configured in odbc.ini, and executes SQL queries interactively or from a script piped on standard input.Built-in runtime commands include `help` (list tables), `help <table>` (list columns), and `quit` to exit the session.

PARAMETERS

DSN

Data source name from odbc.ini.

USER

Database username.

PASSWORD

Database password.

-v

Verbose mode with full error descriptions.

-b

Batch mode (no headers, no prompts).

-d DELIMITER

Column delimiter character (e.g., -d, for comma).

-x HEX

Column delimiter as a hex code (e.g., -x0x09 for TAB).

-c

Output column names on first row (use with -d or -x).

-m NUM

Limit column display width to NUM characters.

-w

Format output as HTML table.

-n

Use newline processing (multi-line SQL terminated with GO).

-e

Use SQLExecDirect instead of Prepare.

-k

Use SQLDriverConnect (DSN-less connection strings).

-l LOCALE

Set locale.

-3

Use ODBC 3 calls.

-L NUM

Maximum characters per field (default: 300).

-q

Wrap character fields in double quotes.

--version

Print version and exit.

CAVEATS

Requires ODBC drivers and a DSN configured in /etc/odbc.ini or ~/.odbc.ini. Part of unixODBC.

HISTORY

isql is part of unixODBC, providing command-line database access through the Open Database Connectivity standard.