How do I restore a plain text postgres .backup file

Question

I exported a postgres db from pgAdmin in a plain format because I wanted to search the whole db text. I then tried to restore the database back but it gives an error saying that the archive file is not valid archive file. How do I restore the db back if it can be restored?

Answer 1

run:

psql -U your_user_name your_db_name < your_dump_file

• yankitwizzy: I am on windows 7. Can I do this on windows 7?
• guido: it should, if psql frontend is included in the postgresql package. Try to fire up a terminal, then cd to postgresql bin directory and try to run psql
• yankitwizzy: I tried it now. It didnt work. There is psql.bat file in the postgres bin directory. I am using postgres 8.3
• guido: what do you mean with 'it didnt work'? if there is psql.bat however, try with that, it should run psql. look here for help archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-admin/2006-12/msg00091.php
• yankitwizzy: Sorry I meant there is no psql.bat file in the bin directory