Importing into sql server management studio

Question

I can see hw to create a files of sql commands from a database table but how do import it into another test database please. Do I use import flat file as taht appears to be for csv files. Thanks

Answer 1

You can use BULK INSERT for that.

For example:
MLTC.csv file content:

"Employee","Email","FirstName","LastName"
"7777777","user@tests.com","Joe","Smith"
"1234567","user@yahoo.com","Simon","Monte"
"5555555","user@gmail.com","Ben","Conners"

SQL

USE tempdb;
GO

DROP TABLE IF EXISTS dbo.tbl;

CREATE TABLE dbo.tbl (EmployeeID VARCHAR(20),Email VARCHAR(20),FirstName VARCHAR(20),LastName VARCHAR(30));

BULK INSERT dbo.tbl
FROM 'e:\Temp\MLTC.csv'
WITH (FORMAT='CSV' -- starting from SQL Server 2017 onwards
   , FIRSTROW = 2
   , FIELDQUOTE = '"'
   , FIELDTERMINATOR = ','
   , ROWTERMINATOR = '\n');

SELECT * FROM dbo.tbl;

Just FYI: Azure Data Studio allows to save result of any SELECT statement as a file on the file system in the following formats: Excel, csv, JSON, and XML.

Answer 2

Do you put that in the new sql box? I presume so. What would it be for a .txt files or a .sql file please

Answer 3

The file would contain "insert into" etc

Answer 4

Bult inserts won't work will it on a file of insert statements?

Answer 5

Use the import/export wizard.

Please see:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/integration-services/import-export-data/start-the-sql-server-import-and-export-wizard?view=sql-server-ver15