Bulk insert identity column format file

But I need the format parameter because it has several benefits like handling double quotes, line break, special characters issues within data. Jeff Moden. While you may consider it to be an extra step and it is , I never import directly into a final table anyway. I always import into a staging table to do validations and then I'll insert into the final table. This topic illustrates the use of a format file in bulk-import operations. A format file maps the fields of the data file to the columns of the table.

The script below creates a test database and a table named myFirstImport. Alternatively, you can execute the following PowerShell script to create and populate the data file:. The following command will use the bcp utility to generate a non-xml format file, myFirstImport.

To use a bcp command to create a format file, specify the format argument and use nul instead of a data-file path. But nope. The identity column just completely ignored the values I was trying to put into it. They have to be of a matching data type an integer in this case but otherwise completely ignored.

And in case you were wondering, I tried similar tests where I put the identity column at the end of the table. Same results. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email.

Notify me of new posts via email. The format option also requires the -f option. In addition, for this example, the qualifier c is used to specify character data, t, is used to specify a comma as a field terminator , and T is used to specify a trusted connection using integrated security. At a command prompt, enter the following command:. Otherwise you will likely receive the following error message:. Using defaults and -f switch. Using defaults. Skip to main content.

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