Text file represents a document that contains information in plain text. Any text editor and most popular web browsers are suitable for viewing or editing text file formats. Also, all smartphones are equipped with suitable applications that can open and edit text file formats. As such, text file formats are the most relevant file formats for sharing information between users. SQL Server users, among other things, can export data in text file format, which will be explained further in the article.
Exporting SQL Server data to a text file format will be explained through using the next two application:
- SQL Server Import and Export Wizard – the Wizard that allows users to copy data from a source to a destination
- ApexSQL Pump – the standalone application that allows the users to import and export SQL Server data in various file formats
Export SQL Server data by using the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard
The SQL Server Import and Export Wizard allowing users to copied data from and to data sources. This Wizard can be opened in two ways, through SQL Server Management Studio, or a stand-alone application through the Start menu. This article will explain how to with SQL Server Import and Export Wizard opened through SQL Server Management Studio.
When the SQL Server Management Studio is opened establish connection to a desired SQL Server. In the Object Explorer panel right-click on the database from where the data should be exported. Select the Tasks option to open the submenu in which the Export data action should be chosen:
EMS Data Export for SQL Server is a powerful tool to export SQL Server database data quickly to any of 20 available formats, including MS Access, MS Excel, MS Word (RTF), HTML, XML, PDF, TXT, CSV, DBF, ODF and others. The program supports Unicode data and has the ability to export SQL Server data from several tables, views or queries at the same time.
Data Export for SQL Server includes a wizard, which allows you to set SQL Server export options for each table visually (destination filename, exported fields, data formats, and much more) and a command line utility to export SQL Server data from tables and queries in one-touch.
In this article, we will illustrate how to export SQL Server data into a Flat file, by using the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard. We will also explain some of the problems that may appear during the process of exporting SQL Server data into a Flat file.
To start the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard, use one of the following ways form the How to import/export data to SQL Server using the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard page.
Exporting data
After choosing how the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard will be started, the first page will be the Welcome page:
Overview
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) provides the Export Wizard task which you can use to copy data from one data source to another. You can choose from a variety of source and destination data source types, select tables to copy or specify your own query to extract data, and save your work as an SSIS package. In this section we will go through the Export Wizard and export data from a SQL Server database to an Excel spreadsheet.
Explanation
To begin launch SSMS by clicking SQL Server Management Studio from the Microsoft SQL Server program group. Upon launching SSMS you will be prompted for a connection; connect to the Database Engine. For demonstration purposes we will use the AdventureWorksDW database. You can download the AdventureWorksDW sample database from the CodePlex site.
Locate the AdventureWorksDW database in the SSMS Object Explorer; if the Object Explorer isn’t visible click the View menu then select Object Explorer:Export Table to Text for SQL Server program, with his easy to use wizard interface, allows you to export data rows from the selected table to text file. This program supports all modern versions of Microsoft SQL Server including Express editions.
Import and Export data in Microsoft SQL Server
This article is about how we can import and export data in Microsoft SQL Server. These can sometimes be very useful tricks to import and export data in Microsoft SQL Server. As database developers, we should always be aware of these tricks in no time data can be imported and exported.