How to Efficiently Import CSV Data with Commas and Double Quotes into SQL Server?

Importing CSV Files with Commas and Double Quotes into SQL Server: A Practical Guide

Importing CSV data into SQL Server can be tricky when dealing with commas within fields and double quotes around data. This guide offers solutions to overcome these challenges.

Addressing Commas within Data Fields

To avoid confusion between field separators and commas within the data itself, use a custom FIELDTERMINATOR in your import statement. Instead of a comma, choose a character unlikely to appear in your data, such as '||'. This clearly separates fields.

Managing Double Quotes in Data Fields

The BULK INSERT statement in SQL Server doesn't inherently handle double quotes around data fields. A practical solution is to import the data with the double quotes and then use a SQL query to remove them afterward. This can be achieved with the REPLACE function:

UPDATE YourTable SET YourColumn = REPLACE(YourColumn, '"', '')

Identifying and Handling Invalid Rows

To pinpoint and manage rows containing errors during the import process, leverage the ERRORFILE option within your BULK INSERT statement. This designates a file to store details about any problematic rows. For example:

ERRORFILE = 'C:\CSVDATA\ImportErrors.csv'

This allows for review and correction of the invalid data before re-importing.

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