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Oracle to PostgreSQL Converter - Free Migration Tool 2025 | AI2sql
Oracle to PostgreSQL Converter - Free Online Tool 2025
Oracle to PostgreSQL migration is a strategic move for businesses aiming to reduce licensing costs, increase cloud compatibility, and leverage open-source innovation. However, successful migration isn't as simple as copying SQL: Oracle's proprietary syntax, objects, data types, and features often conflict with PostgreSQL's standards. Manual conversion leads to rewrites, compatibility checks, and a high risk of errors.
AI2sql solves these challenges by automatically converting natural-language or Oracle SQL into production-ready PostgreSQL queries—no manual mapping, rewrite, or syntax mastery required. Instantly generate and test optimized PostgreSQL SQL that matches your business logic, accelerating cloud adoption and database modernization.
Oracle to PostgreSQL Migration Overview
Migrating from Oracle to PostgreSQL involves converting schemas, rewriting queries, remapping data types, and reconfiguring app connectivity. Enterprise migrations typically seek cost savings, open-source flexibility, and cloud-readiness. Common migration drivers include:
Lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership)
Vendor independence (escape vendor lock-in)
PostgreSQL’s advanced features (JSON, window functions, extensions)
Cloud-native adoption and scaling
Note: Migration projects can impact performance and require careful planning to prevent downtime and data loss. Enterprise-grade solutions like AI2sql platform accelerate safe, reliable transitions.
Key Syntax Differences: Oracle vs PostgreSQL
Direct SQL translation from Oracle to PostgreSQL isn’t possible due to differences in reserved keywords, procedural languages, syntax, and built-in functions. Here’s a syntax comparison:
Operation | Oracle Syntax | PostgreSQL Syntax |
---|---|---|
String Concatenation |
|
|
Auto-Increment |
|
|
Date Functions |
|
|
Substrings |
|
|
NVL/NULL Handling |
|
|
PL/SQL vs PL/pgSQL
Oracle uses PL/SQL for procedural logic; PostgreSQL uses PL/pgSQL with different syntax for triggers, functions, and packages
Some built-in functions and system tables differ or require custom implementation
Data Type Mapping Guide
Accurately mapping data types is crucial for functional and performant data migration. Here’s a quick cross-reference:
Oracle Data Type | PostgreSQL Equivalent |
---|---|
VARCHAR2(n) | VARCHAR(n) or TEXT |
NUMBER | NUMERIC, INTEGER, BIGINT, etc. |
DATE | DATE |
TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE | TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE |
CLOB/BLOB | TEXT/BYTEA |
RAW | BYTEA |
LONG | TEXT |
CHAR(n) | CHAR(n) |
Practical Conversion Example
Oracle: CREATE TABLE users (id NUMBER PRIMARY KEY, name VARCHAR2(100), created_at DATE);
PostgreSQL: CREATE TABLE users (id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY, name VARCHAR(100), created_at DATE);
Common Conversion Challenges
PL/SQL to PL/pgSQL: Procedural code, triggers, and packages may require rewrites
Sequences & Auto-increment: Oracle’s sequences and triggers vs PostgreSQL SERIAL or IDENTITY columns
Function and Package Translation: Proprietary Oracle functions may lack direct equivalents; custom conversion needed
Error Handling: Exception handling syntax changes
Data Migration: Large objects (LOBs), CLOB/BLOB require careful conversion
Performance: Query plans, execution methods, and optimizer hints differ
Step-by-Step Migration Process
Assessment: Analyze schema, SQL, dependencies, and compatibility
Schema Conversion: Convert tables, indexes, constraints
Data Type Mapping: Use mapping guide; adjust for precision and scale
Procedure & Function Rewrite: Translate PL/SQL to PL/pgSQL
Data Migration: Export/import data, validate integrity
Application Refactoring: Update application code and connection drivers
Testing & Validation: Run both functional and performance tests
Go-Live & Monitoring: Plan cut-over and implement monitoring
AI2sql: Generate PostgreSQL Queries from Natural Language
Skip manual conversion – AI2sql instantly generates PostgreSQL SQL from Oracle statements or natural language prompts. No in-depth migration knowledge or error-prone rewrites required. Supports advanced query translation, procedural conversions, and custom mappings for faster enterprise migrations.
Performance Considerations
Indexing: Revisit index strategy – PostgreSQL’s optimizer behaves differently
Partitioning: Redesign partitions (syntax and performance characteristics change)
Bulk Loads: Use PostgreSQL’s
COPY
command for efficient high-volume importsStatistics: Run
ANALYZE
to refresh planning statistics after import
Schema Migration Best Practices
Automate schema extraction and conversion
Validate constraints, foreign keys, and default values
Address reserved keyword conflicts
Document naming convention changes
Test in isolated staging and QA environments
Testing and Validation
Run data integrity checks
Validate row/column count and referential integrity
Compare representative queries and results
Monitor application performance and error logs closely post-migration
Rollback Strategies
Retain Oracle backup for immediate rollback if blocking issues arise
Create repeatable migration scripts
Implement change control and rollback plans for production cut-over
Conversion Examples: Oracle to PostgreSQL
Use Case | Oracle | PostgreSQL |
---|---|---|
Simple SELECT with ROWNUM |
|
|
SYSDATE to NOW() |
|
|
String Functions |
|
|
NVL to COALESCE |
|
|
Stored Procedure |
|
|
JOIN Syntax |
|
|
Troubleshooting: Common Conversion Errors
Datatype errors: Check precision/scale on NUMERIC types
Reserved keywords: Enclose conflicting identifiers in quotes or rename
Function not found: Search PostgreSQL equivalents or use custom implementation
Constraint/sequence differences: Ensure SERIAL/IDENTITY replace Oracle triggers and sequences
Date format mismatches: Adjust import/export scripts to match PostgreSQL format (e.g., YYYY-MM-DD)
Optimize PostgreSQL Performance Post-Migration
Regularly
VACUUM ANALYZE
to update planner statisticsTune
work_mem
,shared_buffers
, andmaintenance_work_mem
for workloadsLeverage native Postgres extensions (e.g.,
pg_partman
,PostGIS
)Monitor queries with
EXPLAIN
and tune slow statements
Skip Manual Conversion — Generate PostgreSQL Queries Instantly
Accelerate Oracle to PostgreSQL migration by generating ready-to-use SQL using AI2sql: Try AI2sql PostgreSQL Generator.
For further learning, see our PostgreSQL SQL Tutorial and toolkit for Oracle Migration Tools.
Conclusion: Migrate Smarter with AI2sql
Oracle to PostgreSQL migration is a high-stakes but rewarding process, unlocking reduced costs, better scalability, and cloud modernization. Avoid tedious manual rewrites, risk of errors, and project overruns—let AI2sql turn your Oracle SQL or natural language requests into reliable, optimized PostgreSQL queries instantly. Join 50,000+ developers trusting AI2sql for cross-platform, enterprise-grade migrations supporting 15+ database engines. Try AI2sql Free - Generate PostgreSQL Queries from Plain English today.
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