Thank you Jeff... and I hear you. I wish this was the first time a "we don't do that here" has bit me.

And again, I failed to give total clarity over the environment. This data load is performed by a single user and is done on the first of the month. So you are absolutely right on the "oh my god, how many calls will this app make" statement. The app is more of an analyst tool for comparing dates and values over time. The analyst(s) have been, for as long as i know, working other tasks involving other systems during the 1st to the 3rd, so I know for sure this process has been in place for at least 4 years.

I can't explain in detail why the lock down, but it does exist and it is a hurdle I have been wanting to jump since i arrived. The process I mentioned is working, but with some adjustments. For instance we had to limit the file size to 30mg in order to avoid page timeouts.

I have scoured the web looking for examples, articles, tips/tricks... and I get nothing that even come close to walking a varchar and working with the content from top to bottom. I even used my trusty expert exchange that I use when I'm really stuck, and even that left me empty.

Is it not possible?