How To Use the SNOMED CT Database Loader

This HOWTO describes how to use the installer scripts to load SNOMEDCT into a database.

Watch the Demo Video

Download the database loader zip file from the https://www.westcoastinformatics.com/products/db-load-scripts website. Select the appropriate database-version pair (i.e. oracle-US Edition). Depending on your database and edition, identify the appropriate target's zip file.
Unzip the contents of the zip file into a 'data' folder
Download the SNOMED CT Release files in ZIP format. US Users can find the files here:
- SNOMED CT® US Edition Release Files
- SNOMED CT® International Edition Release Files
Open the desired zip file and extract the 'Snapshot' folder into the 'data/rf2' folder. Once completed:
- The 'data' folder's content will include:
  - 'rf2' folder
  - HOWTO.md
  - LICENSE.txt
  - README.md
- The 'data/rf2' folder's contents will include:
  - 'Snapshot' folder
  - *.sql files
  - *.ctl files (for oracle only)
  - one *.sh file
In a text editor, open the temp-folder's appropriate "populate" script as defined by your database.

For example:
- For MySQL (or MariaDB), use the "populate_mysql_db.sh" script
- For Postgres, use the "populate_postgres_db.sh" script
- For Oracle, use the "populate_oracle_db.sh" script
Configure settings at the top of the "populate" script for your environment
- use your host's IP address or hostname
- user is your database's username
- password is your database's password
- tns_name or db_name is the database's schema which is to be populated

Create the database schema as defined in step #5
- NOTE: postgres supports only db-level character encoding, so make sure to create your database using: WITH ENCODING 'UTF-8'
Execute the "populate" script
- Note: a complete log file will appear as mysql.log, postgres.log, or oracle.log