Permission denied when trying to import a CSV file from PGAdmin

The permissions article mentioned in the answer by Houari and Flimzy is a good reference material, but a direct answer (the quick fix I used) is:

  • Right click the folder containing the data file(s) that permission was denied to and then click Properties.
  • In the Folder’s Properties window, select the Security tab.
  • Click the Edit button.
  • In the “Permissions for the folder” window that opened, click the Add… button.
  • Type Everyone into the “Enter the object names to select” text area box.
  • Click OK and the window will close.
  • Verify that the default Read & Execute permissions were set to Allow via the check checkbox in the previous window.
    • As JLB notes, Write permission is needed if dumping from PostgreSQL, opposed to copying into it.
  • Click OK and the window will close.
  • Click the Apply button in the Folder Properties window.

Now you can run the SQL COPY statement that needs to access those files.

  • Once done, return to the Folder’s Properties window.
  • Click the Edit button.
  • Select the Everyone entry in the “Group or user names:” field.
  • Click the Remove button.
  • Click OK on the remaining open windows.

The permissions have now been returned to what they were.

Leave a Comment