The process of importing or exporting large amounts of data into a SQL Server database, is referred to as bulk import and export respectively. Fortunately, we are provided with a plethora of native tools for managing these tasks incluing Show
In this article, we’ll review various methods for accomplishing bulk data moving operations from one database to another. The SQL Server Import and export wizard provides a graphical user interface onto a SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) package. Once created the package can be automated, to run on a schedule. It can be further configured and modified by using SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) To begin, open the Import and export wizard, right-click a database and select the Tasks sub-menu -> Export data command:
Troubleshooting: The SQL Server import and export wizard will not distinguish identity columns from any other column type. This will lead to errors when inserting data into such columns
Troubleshooting: The SQL Server import and export wizard also doesn’t process tables based on dependency order. An example might be loading a table, with a foreign key (the child), before the referencing table the parent, causing a foreign key constraint failure Bulk copybcp utility The BCP utility is a console application, managed via the command line, that can build import/export data from a database to a file and visa versa For example, to export all TeamMemberIDs and Emails to the TeamMembers.txt file from the TeamMemberEmail table in the QA database, run the following bcp command: bcp QA.dbo.TeamMemberEmail out TeamMembers.txt –c -T
The -c switch specifies that the utility is being used with character data and that the -T switch states that this process will use a trusted connection, the Windows login credentials of the user that is currently logged. If the -T option is not specified a username and password must be specified with the -U and –P options. As would be expected, the destination table must exist prior to the import and the table must have the expected number and data types of columns to match the imported data. To insert data from the TeamMembers.txt file into the NewSchema.dbo.TeamMemberEmail table use the following bcp command: bcp NewSchema.dbo.TeamMemberEmail in TeamMembers.txt -T –c
Permissions: Select permissions are required on the source table Bulk insert statement Another option for importing/exporting data between files and tables is the Bulk insert statement. The same restrictions and requirements that apply to BCP apply to Bulk insert as well including the requirement for a table to exist that matches the imported data First let’s specify location of the file from which to import the data and the destination database and table:
Openrowset(Bulk) function Openrowset(Bulk) is a T-SQL function that connects via an OLE DB data source to read data. It can access remoted data sources from a remote connection vs a linked server
The Openrowset(Bulk) function provides an alternative to accessing objects from a linked server and it is suitable for one-off entry of data from a remote source. SELECT INTO The Into clause used, in combination with the Select statement, enables creating a new table based on the result set of the Select statement. For example, to copy the TeamMemberEmail table, on the same instance, in the default schema of the QA database, run the following query:
Select into cannot be used to create a new table on a remote SQL Server instance, but a remote source can be included in the Select statement, if there is a link to the remote instance. Any constraints, indexes, and triggers will not be transferred to the new table. Columns in the newly created table will not inherit the Identity property from the query output if the Select statement contains an aggregate function, a Join clause, or a Group by clause, and if an identity column is used in an expression, is used more than once, or is from a remote data source. Export and Import data by using ApexSQL ScriptUsing ApexSQL Script, a SQL Server data and schema scripting and migration tool, you can make a SQL script to export data, or both data and schemas, from a source instance and execute it on a destination instance to perform the import. To script SQL Server database data using ApexSQL Script, follow these steps:
Copy data by using ApexSQL Data DiffApexSQL Data Diff is another useful tool for moving data. It is primarily designed as a comparison and synchronization tool, and as such it assumes that two tables, of similar structure, will exist in both databases. If a destination table already exists and it has the same structure as the source table, you can use ApexSQL Data Diff to migrate, import and export data. ApexSQL Data Diff is a SQL data compare tool that can compare and synchronize database tables but also copy data from one table or tables to a destination database table or tables, as we’ll demonstrate now. To move data with ApexSQL Data Diff, follow these steps:
How do I export data from SQL Server Management Studio?Start the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard from SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). In SQL Server Management Studio, connect to an instance of the SQL Server Database Engine.. Expand Databases.. Right-click a database.. Point to Tasks.. Click one of the following options. Import Data. Export Data.. How do I get the insert statement in SQL Server?In SSMS Object Explorer, right-click the database. From the right-click menu, go to Tasks >> Generate Scripts... In the Generate and Publish Scripts pop-up window, press Next to choose objects screen. Now, the choose objects screen, choose Select specific database objects and choose the tables you want to script.
How do I export query results from SQL Server Management Studio?To export without headers:. In SQL Server Management Studio, after you have run a query, go to the Results tab.. Right-click the result set and click Save Results As:. Name the file and save it.. How will you generate insert script from select query in SQL Server?In SSMS:. Right click on the database > Tasks > Generate Scripts.. Select "Select specific database objects" and check the table you want scripted, Next.. Click Advanced > in the list of options, scroll down to the bottom and look for the "Types of data to script" and change it to "Data Only" > OK.. |