title: How to do an initial batch import of CSV / MySQL data into neo4j database
body: <p>I am considering replacing a MySQL database with a neo4j database. I am a complete beginner with neo4j and would like to know how to go about doing a batch insert of my current MySQL data into the neo4j database so i can experiment and begin to learn about neo4j.</p>
  
  <p>the relational database consists of 4 tables: <code>Person</code>, <code>Organism</code>, <code>Story</code>, <code>Links</code>.
  Links describes relationships between rows in the other 3 tables.</p>
  
  <p><code>Links</code>:
  ID, FromTable, FromID, ToTable, ToID, LinkType</p>
  
  <p><code>Person</code>:
  ID, property_2, property_1, etc ...</p>
  
  <p><code>Organism</code>:
  ID, property_A, property_B, etc ....</p>
  
  <p><code>Story</code>:
  ID, property_x, property_y</p>
  
  <p>each ID field is an auto incrementing integer starting from 1 for each table</p>
  
  <p>In case it is not obvious, a link between say person with ID 3 and a story with ID 42 would have a row in the Links table ID=autoincrement, FromTable=Person, FromID=3, ToTable=Story, ToID=42.
  Even though I am using the terms 'from' and 'to' the actual links are not really 'directed' in practice.</p>
  
  <p>I have looked at Michael Hunger's <a href="https://github.com/jexp/batch-import">batch-import</a> but that seems to only work with a single table of nodes and one table of relationships, whereas I am looking to import three different types of nodes and one list of relationships between them.</p>
  
  <p>I have got neo4j up and running, 
  Any advice to get me started would be greatly appreciated.</p>
  
  <p>I am not familiar with Java, though I do use Python and bash shell scripts.
  After initial import, I will be using the RESTful interface with Javascript.</p>