I got a disc from our supplier for the new quarter. It has a set of text files, with added, changed and deleted items for various tables. It also has the complete tables in text format.

I know you can append data to a table with a text file (I believe through mysqlimport or "load data local infile"). Is it possible to delete or update data w/ a text file?

Would it just be easier to truncate the data in the tables then reload it through the new textfiles that contain the complete tables?

The way you describe it ... it sounds like it would be much easier to re-create the tables.  We do this with our book databases ....

If, however, you edit records from your supplier and do not wish to loose the edits in records he doesn't change, then you will need to apply his changes. That comment also applies if you add you own records to his and don't have a separate data file of the records that you have added

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