Home Forums SQL Server 2008 SQL Server 2008 - General Import many column CSV into 2-column sql table RE: Import many column CSV into 2-column sql table

  • December 15, 2013 at 12:37 pm

    #1673556

    elliottcoyne (12/14/2013)

    Hi there,

    I have a source file that has many columns (25) and want to find the most efficient way to load it into a table with just two columns.

    I.e I always want be first column to appear so I would want columns 1+2, then 1+3, then 1+4, then 1+5..... Up to 1+25

    I was thinking of an insert command that pulls data from a staging table - however bit every row uses the full 25 columns- some are only 3 or 4 and I don't want rows in the final table that just have data in first column 1.

    Any help would be appreciated!!

    It's real easy. Just load the data into a staging table table (as you've identified) and then do qualified CROSS APPLYs to unpivot the data which will also allow you to ignore any rows where the 2+ column have no data.

    If you'd like a coded example, please refer to the first link in my signature line below "Helpful Links" for the right was to post the example data.

    --Jeff Moden

    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)