If you have a more complex file, you will need to use a format file and the next three chapters are for you. Next I cover the basic options to use for every-day work. I first introduce you them to their mindset, which is likely to be different from yours.

I have tried to arrange the material in this article so that if you have a simple problem, you only need to read the first two chapters after the introduction.

You also need to understand that there are file formats they are not able to handle. But you need to understand that these tools are binary to their heart, and they have no built-in rule that says that each line a file is a record – they don't even think in lines. When they work for you, they are powerful. The bulk-load tools have been in the product for a long time and they are showing their age. One distinct allure they have is that they can save you from dragging in another component like SSIS into your mix only because you need to import a handful of files. They are far from always the best choice, but there are situations where they can fulfil your needs very well. The topic for this article is the last three. OPENROWSET (BULK), which you can use in the FROM clause of a query.Use any of the three bulk-load tools that come with SQL Server:.Use some other ETL tool like Informatica.Use the Export/Import Wizard in SSMS (which uses SSIS).If you want to import a file into SQL Server there are a number of options available: See here for font conventions used in this article.

Using the Bulk-Load Tools in SQL Server Using the Bulk-Load Tools in SQL ServerĪn SQL text by Erland Sommarskog, SQL ServerĬopyright applies to this text.

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