How can I properly escape data when exporting to a .sql file?

Data and Databases
1

I’m developing a tool that transforms JSON input into SQL commands without relying on live database connections. The idea is to generate an export file that other applications can later use for importing data. Since many of the functions related to MySQLi and PDO depend on an established connection to determine properties like character encoding, what would be an effective method to ensure proper character escaping in this independent export process?

2

hey, i’ve been tinkering with a custom escape fn too, kinda mimicing mysqli behaviour without a live conn. its a bit hacky but offers extra control. has anyone else played around with this or got better ideas?

3

Establishing a temporary connection to initialize proper settings before performing the escaping operations is an approach that has worked reliably for me. In my projects, using a minimal connection solely for determining character set and other properties allowed consistent behavior of functions like mysqli_real_escape_string. This setup was carefully torn down immediately thereafter to maintain independence from a live database. This method, although adding some overhead, ensures that data is accurately escaped based on the connection’s environment settings, minimizing issues during data import.

4

In my projects, I have found that building a dedicated escaping function based on the rules of the target database is a reliable alternative to using a live connection. By replicating the logic of real_escape_string and carefully addressing all special characters, you achieve consistent results independent of database state. Testing with a diverse set of data inputs to cover edge cases is essential. This approach provides a controlled and predictable process, ensuring that export files maintain integrity when later imported into different environments.

5

i think formatting up the escapes your self by setting a defined charset (ex: utf8) can do the trick. not as robust as a live conn but works if your data is pretty standard. make sure to test some edge cases tho- not every charure might act right.