[sql] How to export all data from table to an insertable sql format?

I have a Table (call it A_table) in a database (call it A_db) in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, and there are 10 rows.

I have another database (call it B_db), and it has a Table (call it B_table), which has the same column settings as A_table has. But the B_table is empty.

What I want:

  • Copy every rows from A_table to B_table.

Is there any option in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 2012, to create an insert SQL from a table? Or is there any other option to do that?

This question is related to sql sql-server copy export ssms

The answer is


Another way to dump data as file from table by DumpDataFromTable sproc

EXEC dbo.DumpDataFromTable
     @SchemaName = 'dbo'
    ,@TableName = 'YourTableName'
    ,@PathOut = N'c:\tmp\scripts\' -- folder must exist !!!'

Note: SQL must have permission to create files, if is not set-up then exec follow line once

EXEC sp_configure 'Ole Automation Procedures', 1; RECONFIGURE WITH OVERRIDE;

By this script you can call the sproc: DumpDataFromTable.sql and dump more tables in one go, instead of doing manually one by one from Management Studio

By default the format of generated scrip will be like

INSERT INTO <TableName> SELECT <Values>

Or you can change the generated format into

SELECT ... FROM

by setting variable @BuildMethod = 2

full sproc code:

IF EXISTS (SELECT * FROM sys.objects WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID(N'[dbo].[DumpDataFromTable]') AND type in (N'P', N'PC'))
    DROP PROCEDURE dbo.[DumpDataFromTable]
GO

SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO
SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO

-- =============================================
-- Author:    Oleg Ciobanu
-- Create date: 20171214
-- Version 1.02
-- Description:
-- dump data in 2 formats
-- @BuildMethod = 1 INSERT INTO format
-- @BuildMethod = 2 SELECT * FROM format
--
-- SQL must have permission to create files, if is not set-up then exec follow line once
-- EXEC sp_configure 'Ole Automation Procedures', 1; RECONFIGURE WITH OVERRIDE;
--
-- =============================================
CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[DumpDataFromTable]
(
     @SchemaName nvarchar(128) --= 'dbo'
    ,@TableName nvarchar(128) --= 'testTable'
    ,@WhereClause nvarchar (1000) = '' -- must start with AND
    ,@BuildMethod int = 1 -- taking values 1 for INSERT INTO forrmat or 2 for SELECT from value Table
    ,@PathOut nvarchar(250) = N'c:\tmp\scripts\' -- folder must exist !!!'
    ,@AsFileNAme nvarchar(250) = NULL -- if is passed then will use this value as FileName
    ,@DebugMode int = 0
)
AS
BEGIN  
    SET NOCOUNT ON;

        -- run follow next line if you get permission deny  for sp_OACreate,sp_OAMethod
        -- EXEC sp_configure 'Ole Automation Procedures', 1; RECONFIGURE WITH OVERRIDE;

    DECLARE @Sql nvarchar (max)
    DECLARE @SqlInsert nvarchar (max) = ''
    DECLARE @Columns nvarchar(max)
    DECLARE @ColumnsCast nvarchar(max)

    -- cleanUp/prepraring data
    SET @SchemaName = REPLACE(REPLACE(@SchemaName,'[',''),']','')
    SET @TableName = REPLACE(REPLACE(@TableName,'[',''),']','')
    SET @AsFileNAme = NULLIF(@AsFileNAme,'')
    SET @AsFileNAme = REPLACE(@AsFileNAme,'.','_')
    SET @AsFileNAme = COALESCE(@PathOut + @AsFileNAme + '.sql', @PathOut + @SchemaName + ISNULL('_' + @TableName,N'') + '.sql')


    --debug
    IF @DebugMode = 1
        PRINT @AsFileNAme

        -- Create temp SP what will be responsable for generating script files
    DECLARE @PRC_WritereadFile VARCHAR(max) =
        'IF EXISTS (SELECT * FROM sys.objects WHERE type = ''P'' AND name = ''PRC_WritereadFile'')
       BEGIN
          DROP  Procedure  PRC_WritereadFile
       END;'
    EXEC  (@PRC_WritereadFile)
       -- '  
    SET @PRC_WritereadFile =
    'CREATE Procedure PRC_WritereadFile (
        @FileMode INT -- Recreate = 0 or Append Mode 1
       ,@Path NVARCHAR(1000)
       ,@AsFileNAme NVARCHAR(500)
       ,@FileBody NVARCHAR(MAX)   
       )
    AS
        DECLARE @OLEResult INT
        DECLARE @FS INT
        DECLARE @FileID INT
        DECLARE @hr INT
        DECLARE @FullFileName NVARCHAR(1500) = @Path + @AsFileNAme

        -- Create Object
        EXECUTE @OLEResult = sp_OACreate ''Scripting.FileSystemObject'', @FS OUTPUT
        IF @OLEResult <> 0 BEGIN
            PRINT ''Scripting.FileSystemObject''
            GOTO Error_Handler
        END    

        IF @FileMode = 0 BEGIN  -- Create
            EXECUTE @OLEResult = sp_OAMethod @FS,''CreateTextFile'',@FileID OUTPUT, @FullFileName
            IF @OLEResult <> 0 BEGIN
                PRINT ''CreateTextFile''
                GOTO Error_Handler
            END
        END ELSE BEGIN          -- Append
            EXECUTE @OLEResult = sp_OAMethod @FS,''OpenTextFile'',@FileID OUTPUT, @FullFileName, 8, 0 -- 8- forappending
            IF @OLEResult <> 0 BEGIN
                PRINT ''OpenTextFile''
                GOTO Error_Handler
            END            
        END

        EXECUTE @OLEResult = sp_OAMethod @FileID, ''WriteLine'', NULL, @FileBody
        IF @OLEResult <> 0 BEGIN
            PRINT ''WriteLine''
            GOTO Error_Handler
        END     

        EXECUTE @OLEResult = sp_OAMethod @FileID,''Close''
        IF @OLEResult <> 0 BEGIN
            PRINT ''Close''
            GOTO Error_Handler
        END

        EXECUTE sp_OADestroy @FS
        EXECUTE sp_OADestroy @FileID

        GOTO Done

        Error_Handler:
            DECLARE @source varchar(30), @desc varchar (200)       
            EXEC @hr = sp_OAGetErrorInfo null, @source OUT, @desc OUT
            PRINT ''*** ERROR ***''
            SELECT OLEResult = @OLEResult, hr = CONVERT (binary(4), @hr), source = @source, description = @desc

       Done:
    ';
        -- '
    EXEC  (@PRC_WritereadFile) 
    EXEC PRC_WritereadFile 0 /*Create*/, '', @AsFileNAme, ''


    ;WITH steColumns AS (
        SELECT
            1 as rn,
            c.ORDINAL_POSITION
            ,c.COLUMN_NAME as ColumnName
            ,c.DATA_TYPE as ColumnType
        FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS c
        WHERE 1 = 1
        AND c.TABLE_SCHEMA = @SchemaName
        AND c.TABLE_NAME = @TableName
    )

    --SELECT *

       SELECT
            @ColumnsCast = ( SELECT
                                    CASE WHEN ColumnType IN ('date','time','datetime2','datetimeoffset','smalldatetime','datetime','timestamp')
                                        THEN
                                            'convert(nvarchar(1001), s.[' + ColumnName + ']' + ' , 121) AS [' + ColumnName + '],'
                                            --,convert(nvarchar, [DateTimeScriptApplied], 121) as [DateTimeScriptApplied]
                                        ELSE
                                            'CAST(s.[' + ColumnName + ']' + ' AS NVARCHAR(1001)) AS [' + ColumnName + '],'
                                    END
                                     as 'data()'                                  
                                    FROM
                                      steColumns t2
                                    WHERE 1 =1
                                      AND t1.rn = t2.rn
                                    FOR xml PATH('')
                                   )
            ,@Columns = ( SELECT
                                    '[' + ColumnName + '],' as 'data()'                                  
                                    FROM
                                      steColumns t2
                                    WHERE 1 =1
                                      AND t1.rn = t2.rn
                                    FOR xml PATH('')
                                   )

    FROM steColumns t1

    -- remove last char
    IF lEN(@Columns) > 0 BEGIN
        SET @Columns = SUBSTRING(@Columns, 1, LEN(@Columns)-1);
        SET @ColumnsCast = SUBSTRING(@ColumnsCast, 1, LEN(@ColumnsCast)-1);
    END

    -- debug
    IF @DebugMode = 1 BEGIN
        print @ColumnsCast
        print @Columns
        select @ColumnsCast ,  @Columns
    END

    -- build unpivoted Data
    SET @SQL = '
    SELECT
        u.rn
        , c.ORDINAL_POSITION as ColumnPosition
        , c.DATA_TYPE as ColumnType
        , u.ColumnName
        , u.ColumnValue
    FROM
    (SELECT
        ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY (SELECT NULL)) AS rn,
    '
    + CHAR(13) + @ColumnsCast
    + CHAR(13) + 'FROM [' + @SchemaName + '].[' + @TableName + '] s'
    + CHAR(13) + 'WHERE 1 = 1'
    + CHAR(13) + COALESCE(@WhereClause,'')
    + CHAR(13) + ') tt
    UNPIVOT
    (
      ColumnValue
      FOR ColumnName in (
    ' + CHAR(13) + @Columns
    + CHAR(13)
    + '
     )
    ) u

    LEFT JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS c ON c.COLUMN_NAME = u.ColumnName
        AND c.TABLE_SCHEMA = '''+ @SchemaName + '''
        AND c.TABLE_NAME = ''' + @TableName +'''
    ORDER BY u.rn
            , c.ORDINAL_POSITION
    '

    -- debug
    IF @DebugMode = 1 BEGIN
        print @Sql     
        exec (@Sql)
    END

    -- prepare data for cursor

    IF OBJECT_ID('tempdb..#tmp') IS NOT NULL
        DROP TABLE #tmp
    CREATE TABLE #tmp
    (
        rn bigint
        ,ColumnPosition int
        ,ColumnType varchar (128)
        ,ColumnName varchar (128)
        ,ColumnValue nvarchar (2000) -- I hope this size will be enough for storring values
    )
    SET @Sql = 'INSERT INTO  #tmp ' + CHAR(13)  + @Sql

    -- debug
    IF @DebugMode = 1 BEGIN
        print @Sql
    END

    EXEC (@Sql)

 -- Insert dummy rec, otherwise will not proceed the last rec :)
INSERT INTO #tmp (rn)
SELECT MAX(rn) +  1 
FROM #tmp   

    IF @DebugMode = 1 BEGIN
        SELECT * FROM #tmp
    END

    DECLARE @rn bigint
        ,@ColumnPosition int
        ,@ColumnType varchar (128)
        ,@ColumnName varchar (128)
        ,@ColumnValue nvarchar (2000)
        ,@i int = -1 -- counter/flag
        ,@ColumnsInsert varchar(max) = NULL
        ,@ValuesInsert nvarchar(max) = NULL

    DECLARE cur CURSOR FOR
    SELECT rn, ColumnPosition, ColumnType, ColumnName, ColumnValue
    FROM #tmp
    ORDER BY rn, ColumnPosition -- note order is really important !!!
    OPEN cur

    FETCH NEXT FROM cur
    INTO @rn, @ColumnPosition, @ColumnType, @ColumnName, @ColumnValue

    IF @BuildMethod = 1
    BEGIN
        SET @SqlInsert = 'SET NOCOUNT ON;' + CHAR(13);
        EXEC PRC_WritereadFile 1 /*Add*/, '', @AsFileName, @SqlInsert
        SET @SqlInsert = ''
    END
    ELSE BEGIN
        SET @SqlInsert = 'SET NOCOUNT ON;' + CHAR(13);
        SET @SqlInsert = @SqlInsert
                        + 'SELECT *'
                        + CHAR(13) + 'FROM ('
                        + CHAR(13) + 'VALUES'
        EXEC PRC_WritereadFile 1 /*Add*/, '', @AsFileName, @SqlInsert
        SET @SqlInsert = NULL
    END

    SET @i = @rn

    WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
    BEGIN

        IF (@i <> @rn) -- is a new row
        BEGIN
            IF @BuildMethod = 1
            -- build as INSERT INTO -- as Default
            BEGIN
                SET @SqlInsert = 'INSERT INTO [' + @SchemaName + '].[' + @TableName + '] ('
                                + CHAR(13) + @ColumnsInsert + ')'
                                + CHAR(13) + 'VALUES ('
                                + @ValuesInsert
                                + CHAR(13) + ');'
            END
            ELSE
            BEGIN
                -- build as Table select
                IF (@i <> @rn) -- is a new row
                BEGIN
                    SET @SqlInsert = COALESCE(@SqlInsert + ',','') +  '(' + @ValuesInsert+ ')'
                    EXEC PRC_WritereadFile 1 /*Add*/, '', @AsFileNAme, @SqlInsert
                    SET @SqlInsert = '' -- in method 2 we should clear script
                END            
            END
            -- debug
            IF @DebugMode = 1
                print @SqlInsert
            EXEC PRC_WritereadFile 1 /*Add*/, '', @AsFileNAme, @SqlInsert

            -- we have new row
            -- initialise variables
            SET @i = @rn
            SET @ColumnsInsert = NULL
            SET @ValuesInsert = NULL
        END

        -- build insert values
        IF (@i = @rn) -- is same row
        BEGIN
            SET @ColumnsInsert = COALESCE(@ColumnsInsert + ',','') + '[' + @ColumnName + ']'
            SET @ValuesInsert =  CASE                              
                                    -- date
                                    --WHEN
                                    --  @ColumnType IN ('date','time','datetime2','datetimeoffset','smalldatetime','datetime','timestamp')
                                    --THEN
                                    --  COALESCE(@ValuesInsert + ',','') + '''''' + ISNULL(RTRIM(@ColumnValue),'NULL') + ''''''
                                    -- numeric
                                    WHEN
                                        @ColumnType IN ('bit','tinyint','smallint','int','bigint'
                                                        ,'money','real','','float','decimal','numeric','smallmoney')
                                    THEN
                                        COALESCE(@ValuesInsert + ',','') + '' + ISNULL(RTRIM(@ColumnValue),'NULL') + ''
                                    -- other types treat as string
                                    ELSE
                                        COALESCE(@ValuesInsert + ',','') + '''' + ISNULL(RTRIM( 
                                                                                            -- escape single quote
                                                                                            REPLACE(@ColumnValue, '''', '''''') 
                                                                                              ),'NULL') + ''''         
                                END
        END


        FETCH NEXT FROM cur
        INTO @rn, @ColumnPosition, @ColumnType, @ColumnName, @ColumnValue

        -- debug
        IF @DebugMode = 1
        BEGIN
            print CAST(@rn AS VARCHAR) + '-' + CAST(@ColumnPosition AS VARCHAR)
        END
    END
    CLOSE cur
    DEALLOCATE cur

    IF @BuildMethod = 1
    BEGIN
        PRINT 'ignore'
    END
    ELSE BEGIN
        SET @SqlInsert = CHAR(13) + ') AS vtable '
                        + CHAR(13) + ' (' + @Columns
                        + CHAR(13) + ')'
        EXEC PRC_WritereadFile 1 /*Add*/, '', @AsFileNAme, @SqlInsert
        SET @SqlInsert = NULL
    END
    PRINT 'Done: ' + @AsFileNAme
END

Or can be downloaded latest version from https://github.com/Zindur/MSSQL-DumpTable/tree/master/Scripts


We just need to use below query to dump one table data into other table.

Select * into SampleProductTracking_tableDump
from SampleProductTracking;

SampleProductTracking_tableDump is a new table which will be created automatically when using with above query. It will copy the records from SampleProductTracking to SampleProductTracking_tableDump

enter image description here


Command to get the database backup from linux machine terminal.

sqlcmd -S localhost -U SA -Q "BACKUP DATABASE [demodb] TO DISK = N'/var/opt/mssql/data/demodb.bak' WITH NOFORMAT, NOINIT, NAME = 'demodb-full', SKIP, NOREWIND, NOUNLOAD, STATS = 10"

Backup and restore SQL Server databases on Linux


I have not seen any option in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 2012 to-date that will do that.

I am sure you can write something in T-SQL given the time.

Check out TOAD from QUEST - now owned by DELL.

http://www.toadworld.com/products/toad-for-oracle/f/10/t/9778.aspx

Select your rows.
Rt -click -> Export Dataset.
Choose Insert Statement format
Be sure to check “selected rows only”

Nice thing about toad, it works with both SQL server and Oracle. If you have to work with both, it is a good investment.


I know this is an old question, but victorio also asked if there are any other options to copy data from one table to another. There is a very short and fast way to insert all the records from one table to another (which might or might not have similar design).

If you dont have identity column in table B_table:

INSERT INTO A_db.dbo.A_table
SELECT * FROM B_db.dbo.B_table

If you have identity column in table B_table, you have to specify columns to insert. Basically you select all except identity column, which will be auto incremented by default.

In case if you dont have existing B_table in B_db

SELECT *
INTO B_db.dbo.B_table
FROM A_db.dbo.A_table

will create table B_table in database B_db with all existing values


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