Import CSV to SQL Server using Azure Data Studio

Learn two ways to import a CSV file into SQL Server using Azure Data Studio. This is a great option if you are like me and use a Mac for development but use SQL Server as your database.
The two options, that I know of, are using SQL Bulk Insert, and the SQL Server Import extension
Docs for Bulk Insert
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql...
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[@marchismo]

The most straight forward data import tutorial and I just spent hours watching multiple different videos. 🥰

[@veccio]

Thanks a bunch! Long time SQL Server user, first time running Azure Data Studio on macOS/Docker. I am super glad to see that there is decent extensibility and additional tools. Grateful for your helpul information.

[@scriptbytes]

You are welcome!

[@oliverselwyn]

Thank you for your clear & comprehensive explanation!!! I was attempting to use the SQL Server Import in Azure Data Studio to import CSV and TXT files. It absolutely would not work and just timed out. Now I know another way to do it! Thanks again.

[@scriptbytes]

You are welcome! I'm glad it helped out.

[@PankajRaghunadhabhatla]

i know better and easy way to do it

[@dylanmariano6993]

@@PankajRaghunadhabhatla how?

[@top_1_percent]

Thanks a ton. This is very helpful for Mac users who love Microsoft Business Products and Services.

[@Reglaized]

Two videos that helped me in one day, thank you!

[@scriptbytes]

Haha, glad they both helped! Thanks for watching.

[@user-et8tr4xq7y]

Thank you so much! You made it so clear and easily!

[@scriptbytes]

You're welcome!

[@shahnawazk]

Very nice and informative, thanks and keep it up.

[@scriptbytes]

I appreciate that, thanks!

[@RahulP572]

Thanx for the explanation. There is one more way through which we can easily import the CSV files in Azure Data Studio by installing the "SQL Server Import" extension from the extension store.

[@scriptbytes]

I talked about that extension in the video

[@haithamdarweesh8781]

What in case I already have a table and I want to append data

[@user-dp7lr5qh6o]

thank you for clearly explanation

[@user-kq3tc5tu1c]

Thank-You, Thank-You, Thank-You! Awesome video and I love the NASA t-shirt! Just knowing there is at least one other human being using Docker/Azure Data Studio for SQL makes me happy! I have experienced LOTS of headaches importing Excel as a CSV file. Recently, I've encountered challenges when dealing with dates. My best guess is that the Excel date data may be a bit wonky, or gets wonky when I "Save As CSV". Any "dealing with date data" experience you can share? Keep up the great work. You've earned my subscription to your channel AND a heartfelt "Like" for your efforts. Cheers! 😎

[@scriptbytes]

I appreciate the kind words! Unfortunately I don't do importing into SQL this way very frequently, so I don't have a lot of tips to share about dates. I do know that Excel is notorious for misinterpreting some columns and what data type is in them, so you are probably onto something with it getting wonky when saving.

[@trieutruong2410]

great hint. Thank you. save me a lot of effort

[@scriptbytes]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@musawasheshambare]

you have earned my subscription sir, thank you

[@scriptbytes]

I appreciate it, thanks!

[@rickgrunewald5163]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@scriptbytes]

You're welcome!

[@amananand1997]

Thank you for making a Mac/docker with Azure Data Studio video, still in the learning process helped a lot. Is there a way to import xls file as if I try with the extension it greys-out the xls files and I not able to import the file.

[@scriptbytes]

I honestly don't do this very often, but I think you might have to save/export the xls as a csv and import that.

[@DilanHamawandy]

Thank you!

[@ayooluwatomisowole3347]

Thank you! I only have an issue with the second option using the extension. I downloaded SQL practice projects, which I am attempting to import into my Azure studio, but it wouldn't run after importing as its imported directly as an SQL file instead of a CSV. Any suggestions on how to change the SQL files to csv before importing into studio?

[@scriptbytes]

I'm not too sure, sorry. Are the sql files rows of data, or are they actual sql statements to create tables and stuff like that?

[@user-hf2hn7rb8q]

Hello! thanks for the video! Do u know how to import data into the existing table in Azure Data Studio except standard INSERT INTO command?

[@scriptbytes]

The Insert Into or Bulk Insert are both options for existing tables. If you need something besides that you might look into an ETL tool (Extract, Transform, Load).

[@winstonmulyawansetiabudi1739]

Do you have any idea on how to import an excel file with multiple sheets to SQL Server? I use mac also, and when I tried using the Import Wizard, the data becomes crazy with weird characters.

[@scriptbytes]

I haven't tried it with multiple sheets. Sorry.

[@lanzly9540]

for some reason when choosing the "database the table is created in", my only option is "master" and not the db that I have created even though i didn't have the same problem before. Do you know why this problem is happening? Thanks in advance

[@scriptbytes]

Unfortunately I haven't seen that issue before. Hopefully someone else can chime in!

[@HenryFake]

Thank you very much but how could I delete a column before step 4?

[@scriptbytes]

I don't think you can unfortunately. I think you'd have to clean up the data you don't want from the csv before using the wizard.

[@munfordable]

Thanks for the vid. Is there a way to import CSV into existing table with SQL Server import using primary ID's? or similar?

[@scriptbytes]

I don't actually do imports very often like this, but I just looked at the docs and there is a KEEPIDENTITY option in the Bulk Insert command. That might be what you're looking for.

[@carlosromero5051]

EXCELLENT VIDEO.

[@scriptbytes]

Thank you very much!

[@abdulhakeemsanni7937]

this was very helpful, do you have any videos on data analysis on youtube?, i would really love to learn from you . i am just starting out tho

[@scriptbytes]

No, I'm not much of a data analyst. I do mostly programming/development.

[@rolanddelarosa7981]

i do not know how to find the docker container where you inout that code for permission😢

[@scriptbytes]

You only need to do that part if you are running the database inside docker. I just included that because it's something that caught me off guard. If you are running it on your computer, or on a server, you don't need that.

[@vaishnavitripathi307]

hey ... when I am doing the same 1. it is not installing directly, I have to install it from vxix. 2. even after installing it is not opening the wizard and showing "spawn Unknown system error -86" & "yet not activated". can anyone help me ? what is wrong with this . I cannot find any solution online .

[@scriptbytes]

Unfortunately I’ve never seen that. Hopefully someone else can chime in and help out.

[@tiagommtt]

thx man, but how do you separate data between semicolon?

[@scriptbytes]

I haven't tested it, but I think you can use the FieldTerminator option in the bulk insert: FIELDTERMINATOR=';' learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/statements/bulk-insert-transact-sql?view=sql-server-ver16#fieldterminator--field_terminator

[@tiagommtt]

Thanks man im gonna try it out@@scriptbytes

[@tjwinnguyen]

What if its a very large data set?

[@scriptbytes]

I haven't done this with large datasets, so I'm not sure how well it would work.

[@FahimMuntasir-od4ud]

Thanks

[@scriptbytes]

You're welcome!

[@pachinkosv]

this is my issue, let me know for any idea: Cannot bulk load because the file ".../.../file_01012023csv" could not be opened. And another thing that I need is automatize this import for new files, how can I do that?

[@scriptbytes]

It looks like you're trying to read the file over http, which I doubt it can do. You probably need to download the file first and then import the downloaded file. There are a million options for automating it. Any tool that can run a SQL command that can be scheduled could be used (ETL tools, APIs, scripts, etc). If you are on SQL Server you could also look into SQL Server Agent which can run a Job.

[@pachinkosv]

@@scriptbytes the file is in a blob store, in this case, just is necesary write the foldername and filename in FROM label? thanks for your help

[@ailleengonzales9372]

Thank you!

[@scriptbytes]

You’re welcome!