As a SQL Server user, you may have encountered situations where the error messages provided by the system seem misleading or false. In this article, we will explore one such scenario and discuss how to identify and resolve false errors.

Let’s consider a common task of importing data from a text file into a SQL table using the BULK INSERT command of T-SQL. To demonstrate this, we will create a sample database called ErrorDB and a table called SQLAuthotity.

CREATE DATABASE ErrorDB;
USE ErrorDB;
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[SQLAuthotity](
	[Id] [int] NOT NULL,
	[Name] [char](200) NULL,
	[ModDate] [datetime] NULL
);
INSERT INTO SQLAuthotity VALUES (1, 'MR. DAVE', GETDATE());
INSERT INTO SQLAuthotity VALUES (2, 'MISS. DAVE', GETDATE());
INSERT INTO SQLAuthotity VALUES (3, 'MRS. DAVE', GETDATE());

Now, let’s export this data to a text file using the bcp command and then import it back into the table.

bcp.exe ErrorDB..SQLAuthotity out "C:\Temp.txt" -c -T -S.\SQL2014;

After exporting the data, we attempt to insert it back into the table using the BULK INSERT command.

USE ErrorDB;
BULK INSERT SQLAuthotity
FROM 'C:\Temp'
WITH
(
  KEEPNULLS,
  FIRSTROW=2,
  FIELDTERMINATOR ='\t',
  ROWTERMINATOR ='\n'
);

However, to our surprise, this command fails with the following error:

Msg 4861, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
Cannot bulk load because the file "C:\Temp" could not be opened.
Operating system error code 5 (Access is denied).

Despite trying various permissions and accounts, the error persists. It seems like an access denied error, but it turns out to be a false error in this case.

The root cause of this false error lies in the incorrect file path provided in the BULK INSERT command. Instead of specifying the file name “C:\Temp.txt”, we mistakenly provided the directory path “C:\Temp”. Since a folder named Temp exists in the C drive, the system interprets it as an access denied error.

So, how can we resolve this false error? Simply by providing the correct file name in the BULK INSERT command:

USE ErrorDB;
BULK INSERT SQLAuthotity
FROM 'C:\Temp.txt'
WITH
(
  KEEPNULLS,
  FIRSTROW=2,
  FIELDTERMINATOR ='\t',
  ROWTERMINATOR ='\n'
);

By correcting the file path, the command executes successfully without any false errors.

It’s important to be aware of such false errors in SQL Server and carefully review the command syntax and file paths to avoid unnecessary troubleshooting. False errors can waste valuable time and effort, leading to frustration and confusion.

Have you encountered similar incorrect or unhelpful errors in SQL Server? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!