Importing Data

    Bring data into Nile from files, object storage, AWS Glue, or PostgreSQL.

    Managed vs External Tables

    Paste Data and PostgreSQL imports create managed tables with native version control (branching, time travel, and rollback). S3 External and Glue Link create external tables that reference data in place and do not include native version control.

    Choose the Right Import

    Paste Data

    Best for small datasets from Excel, CSV, TSV, or JSON. Quick ad‑hoc imports.

    View Paste Data guide

    S3 External

    Reference files already in S3 (Parquet, CSV, JSON, Avro, ORC). Uses a Glue crawler to track schema changes.

    View S3 import guide

    Glue Link

    Link an existing AWS Glue table. Data is not copied; schema changes are monitored on schedule.

    View Glue import guide

    PostgreSQL

    Import a PostgreSQL table into Nile as a managed table. Great for Supabase, Neon, RDS, and other PG sources.

    View PostgreSQL import guide

    Where to Start

    1. Open the Import & Export panel in the Nile app.
    2. Select your source type.
    3. Follow the step‑by‑step guide for that source.