Database Reference
In-Depth Information
It would lead us too far to try to match all the different scenarios to all the different
toolsets, but perhaps we can make some useful assessments of the pros and cons of
the different tools, as follows:
Tools
Pros
Cons
Spreadsheets
It is very easy to use. All
you need to do is write some
formulas that concatenate
strings with cell content and
compose cypher statements
this way. These cypher
statements can then just be
copied into the Neo4j-shell.
• Only works at a limited
scale(<5000nodes/
relationships at a time)
• Performance is not
good—overhead of
unparameterized cypher
transactions
• Quirksincopying/pasting
the statements above a
certain scale
• Piping the statements can
workonOSX/Linuxbut
not on Windows
Neo4j-shell
Cypher Statements
Native toolset—no need to
install anything else. Neo4j-
shell can be used to pipe in
OSX/Linux,whichcanbe
very handy.
You have to create the statements
(see above). If they are not
parameterized, they will be slow
because of the parsing overhead.
Neo4j-shell-tools
A fantastic, rich functionality
for importing CSV, GEOFF,
and GraphML files.
Not a part of the product (yet).
Requires a separate installation.
Cypher Load CSV
A rich functionality to
import CSV files straight
from cypher.
New toolset—recently released
and under rapid development.
Neo4j Browser
Cypher Load CSV
A rich functionality to
import CSV files straight
from cypher.
New toolset—still under
development at the time
of writing.
Command line
batch importer
High performance, easy
to use, especially with
binary installer.
Specific purpose for CSV files.
