How to Import CSV Data into SQL Server Tables with BULK INSERT

You want to import your sales orders from a comma delimited file into a SQL Server or MSDE table called orders. The file looks like this:

345,John Doe, 400
346,Mark Smith,450
347,Robert,400

Run the following SQL command in Beekeeper Studio, SQL Server Management Studio, or any SQL client. Replace lower case text with your own:

BULK INSERT [orders]
FROM 'c:orders.csv'
WITH (FIELDTERMINATOR = ',')

Result (order table):

Make sure the field terminator (‘,’) in this example is not part of any actual value. The field Name for instance cannot be ‘Doe, John’ since the ‘,’ would be considered as a field terminator.

The table has to be similar in format to the file (same number of fields and same data type.)