Comments on: SQLFilter: Simple Data Import Question

Question: SQLFilter: Simple Data Import Question

joshjs — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:53:48 -0800

How do I merge an external text file into a SQL table (MS SQL Server)?

Let's say I have a table (in MS SQL Server 2000 (or in general, I suppose)) with columns ID, FirstName and LastName, all filled up. I got this sweet new .csv file with ID and MiddleInitial. I want to get the MiddleInitial data in my table, so I add the MiddleInitial column to my table.

(Say I have 20,000 users in this database.)

What's the easiest way to import my data? I've poked around with the wizards, to no avail. It seems like something I shouldn't need to write code to do, so that's sort of what I'm looking for...

By: joshjs

joshjs — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 09:56:50 -0800

To clarify: By "users," I meant "records."

By: majick

majick — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:01:43 -0800

OPENROWSET with the text driver.

By: twiggy

twiggy — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:05:55 -0800

You have 2 options here that I can think of:

1) (No code required, but kludgy) Export a CSV from your current SQL table with the rest of the data, pop it in Excel and sort it by ID, sort your ID/MiddleInitial CSV by ID as well, and paste it in... Reimport the completed dataset as one table.

2) (Sorry, code required) Write a script that goes through each line of the CSV and basically does: UPDATE users SET MiddleInitial='$middleinitial' WHERE ID='$ID'; ....

By: alkupe

alkupe — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:12:28 -0800

1. import the text file using DTS. Its pretty easy to do this using Enterprise manager....you just right click on the DB and select import data.
2. use the following sql query.
update table oldtablename
from newtablename
set oldtablename.middleinitial = newtablename.middleinitial
where oldtablename.id = newtablename.id

By: joshjs

joshjs — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:14:06 -0800

Thank you, sirs. Shoulda thought of that last one.

By: joshjs

joshjs — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:14:27 -0800

(Sirs or ma'ams.)