Azure Data Studio (ADS) is a lightweight IDE built on Visual Studio Code that provides a range of features for working with SQL Server. In this article, we will explore the Import extension in ADS, which allows us to easily import CSV files into our database.

Installing the Import Extension

To get started, we need to install the Import extension in Azure Data Studio. Open ADS and navigate to the Extensions item in the sidebar. Search for “import” and click on the extension in the marketplace. Click the “Install” button to add the extension to ADS.

Using the Import Extension

Once the Import extension is installed, we can launch it by pressing Ctrl+I or right-clicking on a database in the server explorer and selecting “Import wizard”. The Import wizard will open, allowing us to set the parameters for the import.

In the wizard, we need to select the CSV file we want to import and provide a new table name. We can also preview the table structure and make any necessary changes to the column names or data types.

After setting the parameters, we can click “Import” to import the data from the CSV file into the database. A summary of the import will be displayed, and we can verify the imported data by running a query.

Handling Headers in CSV Files

If our CSV file contains headers, we can easily handle them during the import process. The Import extension in ADS automatically detects the headers and uses them as column names in the destination table.

If the headers are not detected correctly, we can modify the CSV file to ensure proper detection. For example, we can add a line with headers or change the case of the header row to match the expected format.

Working with Derived Columns

The Import extension also supports derived columns, which allow us to derive values from existing data during the import process. We can add new columns to our CSV file and specify the transformation logic for each derived column.

For example, we can add auditing columns like “DataChange” and specify values for each row based on certain conditions. The Import extension provides a preview of the derived columns, allowing us to verify the transformation before importing the data.

Conclusion

The Import extension in Azure Data Studio provides a convenient way to import CSV files into SQL Server databases. With its intuitive interface and support for headers and derived columns, it simplifies the data import process. In the next article, we will explore more advanced features of the Import extension and experiment with different types of data and file formats.