diff --git a/fishbook/data_import.py b/fishbook/data_import.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..abe7103
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fishbook/data_import.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import argparse
+import glob
+
+main_descr = "Import data into the fishbook database!"
+
+
+def run(args):
+    import fishbook as fb
+
+    if args.Drop:
+        fb.backend.database.drop_tables()
+        exit()
+    from IPython import embed
+    embed
+    datasets = sorted(glob.glob(os.path.join(args.folder, args.pattern)))
+    if len(datasets) > 0:
+        fb.backend.database.populate(datasets, args.update)
+    
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(prog="fishbookImport", description=main_descr)
+    parser.add_argument("folder", default=".", help="the location in which to look for datasets. Default is the current folder")
+    parser.add_argument("-p", "--pattern", type=str, default="20*", help="the dataset name pattern to apply")
+    parser.add_argument("-u", "--update", default=False, action="store_true", help="update entries instead of skipping duplicates")
+    parser.add_argument("--drop", default=False, action="store_true", help="Drop all information from the database")
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    run(args)
+  
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
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