TIM.OGRADY (6/19/2010)
Is there a way to ensure that a flat file is loaded into sql in the exact sequence of the source file?I am having a similar concern with a flat file. I need to ensure that the data loaded is loaded in the same sequence found in the flat file source. I have set up the target table with an identity column which has sequenced the rows 1,2,3,..etc. It appears that the first few rows match the source, but I need to confirm the file was loaded from top to bottom. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Tim,
it's usually better to start a new thread for a new issue. If you found a thread that's close to the problem you have, you could put a link into your thread. But that's just a side note - no need to start a new thread with this issue...
The answer follows the pattern of this thread: do you have any kind of natural key that can be used to identify the row sequence of your source file (e.g. names, a date, a quantity or something else in ascending/descending order)?
If so, you could use a self-join on your target table together with ROW_NUMBER() to ensure an ascending sequence.