Import and Export Wizard Defaults

Question

I am using the Import and Export Wizard to import CSV text files into an SQL Server database. I have to import between 10 and 15 of these files daily. The Wizard is the best way that I have found to import my data. However, I find myself clicking the same things repeatedly. For example, I have to uncheck the "Column names in the first data row" box every time. I have to add quotations marks to the "Text qualifier" for every file. And much more. It would even save me some time if I could start a new import from the last screen instead of having to close the wizard and opening it again to import the next file. This has become a mindless task that I dread. My mind starts to wonder and then I start making mistakes. The data comes in sets of 5 files. It takes 10 to 15 minutes to import each set. Defaults would make the task of importing these files quicker with less mistakes. Please consider updating this software. It would be a welcome improvement. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi @Larry Dye ,

The .csv files import to one SQL table? If so, you can try the suggestion from the blog SSIS - How To Load Multiple Files ( .txt or .csv ) To a Table With File Names.

If you have 15 .csv files, data in these files update frequently, you need to update data from these15 files to SQL server every day, you can using BULK INSERT query to import CSV file to SQL server. Then creating jobs to run the queries daily. But the CSV format is supported from SQL Server 2017 (14.x) CTP 1.1 for BULK INSERT. Refer to the blog Import CSV file into SQL Server using T-SQL query.

If you have some suggestions about Import and Export Wizard, you can submit your suggestion to the Microsoft feedback at this link https://feedback.azure.com/forums/908035-sql-server .

Best regards,
Cathy

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Answer 2

Better solution for your task is to create a SSIS package to import data to the tables from the csv files. You also can create a SQL job based on the SSIS package and schedule to run it daily so that you do not need to manually import data.