Many SQL Server users often wonder how to generate comma separated files for table data without using additional tools like SQLCMD or BCP. The good news is that SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) itself provides a simple solution for this. In this blog post, we will explore the steps to achieve this using SSMS.
Step 1: Accessing Options
To begin, open SQL Server Management Studio and navigate to the “Tools” menu in the menu bar. Click on “Options” to access the SSMS options.
Step 2: Modifying Query Results Settings
In the “Options” window, navigate to “Query Results” and then “SQL Server”. Here, you will find the “Results to Text” option. Click on it to modify the settings.
Step 3: Choosing Delimiter and Output Format
In the “Results to Text” settings, choose the “Comma delimited” option to generate comma separated files. By default, the output will include column headers. If you only want the data without column headers, uncheck the “Include column headers in the result set” box.
You can also customize the delimiter by selecting the “Custom delimiter” option and entering your desired delimiter character. For example, you can use a pipe (|) as the delimiter.
Step 4: Saving and Importing the Output
Once you have made the necessary modifications, click “OK” to save the settings. It is important to note that these settings are saved per query window, so you may need to open a new query window for the changes to take effect.
Now, when you execute a query, the output will be generated in the specified format. If you chose to exclude column headers, only the rows of data will be displayed. This output can be saved and imported into another server using commands like BCP, Bulk Insert, or the Import/Export Wizard.
By utilizing the built-in functionality of SQL Server Management Studio, you can easily generate comma separated files without the need for additional tools. This simple technique can greatly enhance your productivity and streamline your data export process.
For more information on related topics, you may find the following articles helpful:
- SQL SERVER – Import CSV File Into SQL Server Using Bulk Insert – Load Comma Delimited File Into SQL Server
- SQL SERVER – FIX – Msg 4864, Level 16, State 1 – Bulk load data conversion error