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Data Import and Export Tools for SQL Server

Data import and export are common tasks in data and database management operations.

Developers and database administrators need to maintain database structures during migration and automate data transfer between systems.

Managers and analysts require efficient ways to load data from various sources and export results in standard formats.

dbForge Studio for SQL Server provides integrated import/export capabilities that address all these challenges. You can easily migrate data to and from popular formats, customize the workflow, and automate the entire process.

  • Export data to 14 most popular data formats
  • Import data from 10 commonly used data formats
  • Migrate data between heterogeneous servers through ODBC
  • Use Import and Export wizard to easily configure tasks
  • Create templates to customize import and export jobs
  • Automate regular tasks via the command line

Supported data export/import formats

HTML Format
TXT Format
XLSX Format
MDB Format
RTF Format
PDF Format
JSON Format
XML Format
CSV Format
ODBC Format
DBF Format
SQL Format
How To Export and Import Data in SQL Server

How to export and import data in SQL Server

Data import and export tools are integrated into dbForge Studio for SQL Server.

These tools help you save time and make the data transfer process more efficient, convenient, and hassle-free.

Export data from a SQL database using Data Export Wizard

14 supported export file formats

You can export database data in the following formats:

  • HTML
  • Text
  • MS Excel
  • MS Excel 2007
  • Google Sheets
  • MS Access
  • RTF
  • PDF
  • JSON
  • XML
  • CSV
  • ODBC
  • DBF
  • SQL

A step-by-step Data Export Wizard helps you configure tasks in a few clicks.

Data Export tool for SQL Server - SQL Export to 14 formats

Select data for export

When performing export tasks with the SQL Data Export tool you can select the following:

  • SQL Server connection
  • the database
  • table(s)
  • view(s)

With dbForge Studio for SQL Server transferring data across different servers and IDEs is quick and easy.

Data Export utility for SQL Server - Export Source

Export options

You can customize table grid options for exported data with the following configurations:

  • Header text color and background
  • The width and color of borders
  • The text color and background of rows

In the Preview section, you can review the appearance of the exported dataset.

For your convenience, you can make even and odd rows look different.

SQL Server Data Export utility - Data export options

Customizable data format

To encourage and deliver unified data standards within your team, you can customize data format for the exported datasets with the following types:

  • Integer
  • Date
  • Time
  • String
  • HexString
  • Float
  • Currency
  • DateTime
  • Boolean
SQL Server Data Export tool - Data formats

Select rows for export

There is no need to export the whole table. You can select to export all rows, the selected rows only, or the range of rows.

The selective export feature simplifies data transfer and analysis processes and greatly saves time.

SQL Data Export tool - Exporting rows

Errors handling

On the Errors handling tab of the Data Export Wizard, you can specify errors processing behavior:

  • Prompt a user for an action
  • Ignore all errors
  • Abort at the first error

Also, you can select to create a log file with a report and set a path to it.
SQL Data Export utility - Errors handling

Save templates

The Studio allows you to save export configuration templates for repetitive data export tasks.

Just apply the templates to configure any number of data export jobs.

Export SQL Server data - Export templates

Export from the command line

The Data Export tool supports the command-line interface, making it quicker and easier to configure and perform routine jobs.

  • Use the command-line interface or PowerShell to automate routine data export tasks.
  • Save data export settings as a command-line execution file (.bat) to run it whenever you need.
  • Schedule a batch file execution via the Windows Scheduler to simplify your database operations.
Migrate SQL data - Export from the command line
Import data into a SQL database using Data Import Wizard
Data Import for SQL Server - import from 10 formats

SQL import formats

Import SQL Server database data from the following formats:

  • Text
  • MS Excel
  • MS Excel 2007
  • Google Sheets
  • MS Access
  • XML
  • JSON
  • CSV
  • ODBC
  • DBF

A user-friendly step-by-step Data Import Wizard helps you prepare import tasks in a few clicks.

SQL Server Data Import tool - Import destination

Import into a new table

Select various destinations for data import:

  • SQL Server connection
  • database
  • schema

The tool allows for data import into a new or existing table for quick and easy data transfer between different databases and servers.

SQL Server Data Import functionality - Data import options

Import options

Set import options according to your project requirements.

Custom settings depend on the data import format selected.

SQL Server Data Import - Import data formats

Configure data formats

Embrace unified data standards for your team or organization. Customize the data formats:

  • Null string
  • Thousand separator
  • Decimal separator
  • Boolean
  • Date and Time format

You can set options for each column separately.

Data Import tool for SQL Server - Exporting rows

Mapping options

Column mapping is one of the core features that enables cross database support within a single schema.

When you import data into a new table, the tool automatically creates and maps all the columns.

But when you import data into an existing table, the columns with the same names are mapped by the tool, while you will have to map others manually.

SQL Server Data Import utility - Data Import Modes

Data import modes

Choose a data import mode to best fit your needs:

  • Append
  • Update
  • Append\Update
  • Delete
  • Repopulate

You can select to import data in a single transaction and/or in bulk.

SQL Data Import utility - Import Output

Data import output

On the Output tab, you can select options to manage the data import script output:

  • Open the script in the internal editor
  • Save the script to a file
  • Import data directly to the database.

The tool also allows adding a timestamp to the file name and selecting a folder to save the file to automatically.

Data Import for SQL Server - Import Errors handling

Manage import errors

Customize errors handling behavior and logging options according to your project needs and requirements.

Appropriate error processing helps you save time on database development, administration, and maintenance.

Data Import utility for SQL Server - Import Templates

Saving import templates

You can save task settings as templates and reuse them to significantly speed up recurring data import tasks.

It is also possible to share templates with the team for task standardization.

SQL Server Data Import - Command-line Import

Command-line import

The tool allows performing data import tasks automatically using the Command Line:

  • Override a connection specified in the template
  • Create a new table during import
  • Import data using the template settings
  • Specify the necessary file with the data to import
  • Specify the target table
  • Specify the table or view to import the data from
  • Specify the error handling behavior
How to use Data Export/Import Wizards

Exporting data

With dbForge Studio, you can easily export data from one or several tables using Data Export wizard:

  • Click Export Data on the Data Pump tab of the Start Page
  • Select the desired export format or load settings from the template
  • Select the source
  • Set preferences for the export format
  • Choose rows and columns to be exported
  • Specify the error handling behavior
  • Click Export and view the results
Export SQL Server data - Export templates

Importing data

To import data with the Data Import wizard, follow the below steps:

  • Open Data Import wizard
  • Select the required import format and specify the Source location
  • Specify the target SQL Server connection and the database
  • Select whether to import data into a new or an existing table
  • Specify formats for the source data
  • Configure the error handling behavior
  • Click Import. The Studio will notify you about the results
SQL Data Extraction tool - Exporting rows

Conclusion

dbForge Studio for SQL Server is a feature-rich IDE that has built-in advanced tools for filling databases with external source data and performing SQL data transfer between systems. The tools support 10+ widely used data formats and can boast a number of advanced options, templates for recurring scenarios, Command Line support, and many more.

Availability in the editions of dbForge Studio for SQL Server

Feature

Enterprise
Professional
Standard
Express
Data Export/Import wizard
Yes
Yes
Yes
Command-line interface for data import & export
Yes
Yes
None
None
Generate Scripts wizard
Yes
Yes
None
None
Command-line interface for scripts generation
Yes
Yes
None
None

What else can dbForge Studio for SQL Server do?

T-SQL Debugger
T-SQL Debugger
Copy Database Wizard
Copy Database
Query Profiler
Query Profiler
Database Designer
Database Designer
Schema Compare
Schema Compare
Diagnostic Manager
Diagnostic Manager
Report Builder
Report Builder
Table Designer
Table Designer
Query Builder
Query Builder
Coding Assistance
Coding Assistance
View all features