So simply I'm doing something similar to:
select
[BadData], [WorseDate], [IQuitData]
into
#BadDataTempTable
from
SomeoneElsesMess
what I want to do now is something similar to:
Select
Replace(#BadDataTempTable.*, ',', ' ')
from
#BadDataTempTable -- Replace all commas in every column `with a space--`
Is this possible? If so please show me the easiest (non-function) way to do so.
Thanks. SQL Server 2012 I think. I'm using SSMS 17
No, the columns have to be specified. You could use dynamic SQL to build your update / query. Then just copy the command you want from the results.
Maybe this will help get you started:
BEGIN
-- Set the replace value
DECLARE #ls_replaceValue NVARCHAR(MAX) = ',';
-- Set the with value
DECLARE #ls_withValue NVARCHAR(MAX) = ' ';
-- Set the table name we want to query
DECLARE #ls_table NVARCHAR(MAX) = 'some_table';
-- Get all of the columns and provide the replace parameters
DECLARE #ls_columns NVARCHAR(MAX) = '';
SELECT #ls_columns = #ls_columns + ', ' + name + ' = REPLACE(' + name + ', ' + '' + '''' + REPLACE(#ls_replaceValue, '''', '''''''') + '''' + ', ' + '''' + REPLACE(#ls_withValue, '''', '''''''') + '''' + ')'
FROM sys.all_columns
WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID(#ls_table)
AND collation_name IS NOT NULL; -- Skip columns that aren't character based
-- Remove the first ', ' from the column list
SET #ls_columns = SUBSTRING(#ls_columns, 3, LEN(#ls_columns));
IF #ls_columns = ''
BEGIN
PRINT 'Table not found'
RETURN
END
-- Build a query
DECLARE #ls_query_sql NVARCHAR(MAX) = '';
SET #ls_query_sql = 'SELECT ' + #ls_columns + ' FROM ' + #ls_table;
-- Show the results
SELECT #ls_query_sql AS querySQL;
END
Just since the OP asked about how you might do this in dynamic SQL, here's how I'd approach it. Basically get the table schema information and concatenate all the columns, plus the REPLACE logic you want using FOR XML. This basically constructs the statement Rigerta posted, but does it dynamically.
use tempdb
go
if object_id('tempdb.dbo.#SomeoneElsesBadData') is not null drop table #SomeoneElsesBadData
create table #SomeoneElsesBadData
(
BadData varchar(250),
WorseData varchar(250),
IQuitData varchar(250)
)
declare #sql nvarchar(max)
select #sql = 'select '
+ stuff((select ', '
+ name
+ ' = replace(' + name + ''','', '''')'
from tempdb.sys.columns
where object_id = object_id('tempdb.dbo.#SomeoneElsesBadData')
for xml path('')), 1, 1, '')
+ ' into #BadDataTempTable
from #SomeoneElsesBadData'
exec sp_executesql #sql
All things being equal, the data should probably be cleaned before it gets into SQL, but reality is rarely fair.
My table has all the column names
(There are more than 80 columns, I can't change the column names now)
in the format of '_'. Like First_Name, Last_Name,...
So i want to use select * from table instead
of using AS.
I want to select them by removing '_' in one statement. Anyway i can do it?
something like Replace(coulmnName, '_','') in select statement ?
Thanks
You can simply rename the column in your query. For example:
SELECT FIRST_NAME [First Name],
LAST_NAME [Last Name]
FROM UserTable
You can also use the AS keyword but this is optional. Also note that if you don't want to do this on every query you can use this process to create a view with renamed columns. Then you can use SELECT * the way you want to (although this is considered a bad idea for many reasons).
Best of luck!
Alternative - Map In The Client Code:
One other alternative is to do the mapping in the client code. This solution is going to depend greatly on your ORM. Most ORM's (such as LINQ or EF) will allow you to remap. If nothing else you could use AutoMapper or similar to rename the columns on the client using convention based naming.
You can't do this in a single statement unless you're using dynamic SQL. If you're just trying to generate code, you can run a query against Information_Schema and get the info you want ...
DECLARE #MaxColumns INT
DECLARE #TableName VARCHAR(20)
SET #TableName = 'Course'
SELECT #MaxColumns = MAX(ORDINAL_POSITION) FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS WHERE TABLE_NAME = #TableName
SELECT Col
FROM
(
SELECT 0 Num, 'SELECT' Col
UNION
SELECT ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY TABLE_NAME ORDER BY ORDINAL_POSITION) Num, ' [' + COLUMN_NAME + '] AS [' + REPLACE(COLUMN_NAME, '_', '') + ']' + CASE WHEN ORDINAL_POSITION = #MaxColumns THEN '' ELSE ',' END
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_NAME = #TableName
UNION
SELECT #MaxColumns + 1 Num, 'FROM ' + #TableName
) s
ORDER BY num
The question intrigued me and I did find one way. It makes it happen but if you just wanted to give a lot of aliases one time in one query I wouldn't recommend it though.
First I made a stored procedure that extracts all the column names and gives them an alias without '_'.
USE [DataBase]
GO
IF OBJECT_ID('usp_AlterColumnDisplayName', 'P') IS NOT NULL
DROP PROCEDURE usp_AlterColumnDisplayName
GO
CREATE PROCEDURE usp_AlterColumnDisplayName
#TableName VARCHAR(50)
,
#ret nvarchar(MAX) OUTPUT
AS
Select #ret = #ret + [Column name]
From
(
SELECT ([name] + ' AS ' + '[' + REPLACE([name], '_', ' ') + '], ') [Column name]
FROM syscolumns
WHERE id =
(Select id
From sysobjects
Where type = 'U'
And [name] = #TableName
)
) T
GO
Then extract that string and throw it into another string with a query-structure.
Execute that and you are done.
DECLARE #out NVARCHAR(MAX), #DesiredTable VARCHAR(50), #Query NVARCHAR(MAX)
SET #out = ''
SET #DesiredTable = 'YourTable'
EXEC usp_AlterColumnDisplayName
#TableName = #DesiredTable,
#ret = #out OUTPUT
SET #out = LEFT(#out, LEN(#out)-1) --Removing trailing ', '
SET #Query = 'Select ' + #out + ' From ' + #DesiredTable + ' WHERE whatever'
EXEC sp_executesql #Query
If you just wanted to give a lot of aliases at once without sitting and typing it out for 80+ columns I would rather suggest doing that with one simple SELECT statement, like the one in the sp, or in Excel and then copy paste into your code.
I have SQL Server 2008, SQL Server Management Studio.
I need to select data from a table in one database and insert into another table in another database.
How can I convert the returned results from my select into INSERT INTO ...?
Clarification from comments: While I believe this could be solved by a INSERT INTO SELECT or SELECT INTO, I do need to generate INSERT INTO ....
Here is another method, which may be easier than installing plugins or external tools in some situations:
Do a select [whatever you need]INTO temp.table_namefrom [... etc ...].
Right-click on the database in the Object Explorer => Tasks => Generate Scripts
Select temp.table_name in the "Choose Objects" screen, click Next.
In the "Specify how scripts should be saved" screen:
Click Advanced, find the "Types of data to Script" property, select "Data only", close the advanced properties.
Select "Save to new query window" (unless you have thousands of records).
Click Next, wait for the job to complete, observe the resulting INSERT statements appear in a new query window.
Use Find & Replace to change all [temp.table_name] to [your_table_name].
drop table [temp.table_name].
In SSMS:
Right click on the database > Tasks > Generate Scripts
Next
Select "Select specific database objects" and check the table you want scripted, Next
Click Advanced > in the list of options, scroll down to the bottom and look for the "Types of data to script" and change it to "Data Only" > OK
Select "Save to new query window" > Next > Next > Finish
All 180 rows now written as 180 insert statements!
Native method:
for example if you have table
Users(Id, name)
You can do this:
select 'insert into Table values(Id=' + Id + ', name=' + name + ')' from Users
1- Explanation of Scripts
A)Syntax for inserting data in table is as below
Insert into table(col1,col2,col3,col4,col5)
-- To achieve this part i
--have used below variable
------#CSV_COLUMN-------
values(Col1 data in quote, Col2..quote,..Col5..quote)
-- To achieve this part
-- i.e column data in
--quote i have used
--below variable
----#QUOTED_DATA---
C)To get above data from existing
table we have to write the select
query in such way that the output
will be in form of as above scripts
D)Then Finally i have Concatenated
above variable to create
final script that's will
generate insert script on execution
E)
#TEXT='SELECT ''INSERT INTO
'+#TABLE_NAME+'('+#CSV_COLUMN+')VALUES('''+'+'+SUBSTRING(#QUOTED_DATA,1,LEN(#QUOTED_DATA)-5)+'+'+''')'''+' Insert_Scripts FROM '+#TABLE_NAME + #FILTER_CONDITION
F)And Finally Executed the above query EXECUTE(TEXT)
G)QUOTENAME() function is used to wrap
column data inside quote
H)ISNULL is used because if any row has NULL
data for any column the query fails
and return NULL thats why to avoid
that i have used ISNULL
I)And created the sp sp_generate_insertscripts
for same
1- Just put the table name for which you want insert script
2- Filter condition if you want specific results
----------Final Procedure To generate Script------
CREATE PROCEDURE sp_generate_insertscripts
(
#TABLE_NAME VARCHAR(MAX),
#FILTER_CONDITION VARCHAR(MAX)=''
)
AS
BEGIN
SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE #CSV_COLUMN VARCHAR(MAX),
#QUOTED_DATA VARCHAR(MAX),
#TEXT VARCHAR(MAX)
SELECT #CSV_COLUMN=STUFF
(
(
SELECT ',['+ NAME +']' FROM sys.all_columns
WHERE OBJECT_ID=OBJECT_ID(#TABLE_NAME) AND
is_identity!=1 FOR XML PATH('')
),1,1,''
)
SELECT #QUOTED_DATA=STUFF
(
(
SELECT ' ISNULL(QUOTENAME('+NAME+','+QUOTENAME('''','''''')+'),'+'''NULL'''+')+'','''+'+' FROM sys.all_columns
WHERE OBJECT_ID=OBJECT_ID(#TABLE_NAME) AND
is_identity!=1 FOR XML PATH('')
),1,1,''
)
SELECT #TEXT='SELECT ''INSERT INTO '+#TABLE_NAME+'('+#CSV_COLUMN+')VALUES('''+'+'+SUBSTRING(#QUOTED_DATA,1,LEN(#QUOTED_DATA)-5)+'+'+''')'''+' Insert_Scripts FROM '+#TABLE_NAME + #FILTER_CONDITION
--SELECT #CSV_COLUMN AS CSV_COLUMN,#QUOTED_DATA AS QUOTED_DATA,#TEXT TEXT
EXECUTE (#TEXT)
SET NOCOUNT OFF
END
SSMS Toolpack (which is FREE as in beer) has a variety of great features - including generating INSERT statements from tables.
Update: for SQL Server Management Studio 2012 (and newer), SSMS Toolpack is no longer free, but requires a modest licensing fee.
It's possible to do via Visual Studio SQL Server Object Explorer.
You can click "View Data" from context menu for necessary table, filter results and save result as script.
Using visual studio, do the following
Create a project of type SQL Server-->SQL Server Database Project
open the sql server explorer CTL-\ , CTL-S
add a SQL Server by right clicking on the SQL SERVER icon. Selcet ADD NEW SERVER
navigate down to the table you are interested in
right click--> VIEW DATA
Click the top left cell to highlight everything (ctl-A doesnt seem to work)
Right Click -->SCript
This is fabulous. I have tried everything listed above over the years. I know there is a tool out there that will do this and much more, cant think of the name of it. But it is very expensive.
Good luck. I just figured this out. Have not tested it extensively w/ text fields etc, but it looks like it gets you a long ways down the road.
Greg
Create a separate table using into statement
For example
Select * into Test_123 from [dbo].[Employee] where Name like '%Test%'
Go to the Database
Right Click the Database
Click on Generate Script
Select your table
Select advanace option and select the Attribute "Data Only"
Select the file "open in new query"
Sql will generate script for you
This is a more versatile solution (that can do a little more than the question asks), and can be used in a query window without having to create a new stored proc - useful in production databases for instance where you don't have write access.
To use the code, please modify according to the in line comments which explain its usage. You can then just run this query in a query window and it will print the INSERT statements you require.
SET NOCOUNT ON
-- Set the ID you wish to filter on here
DECLARE #id AS INT = 123
DECLARE #tables TABLE (Name NVARCHAR(128), IdField NVARCHAR(128), IdInsert BIT, Excluded NVARCHAR(128))
-- Add any tables you wish to generate INSERT statements for here. The fields are as thus:
-- Name: Your table name
-- IdField: The field on which to filter the dataset
-- IdInsert: If the primary key field is to be included in the INSERT statement
-- Excluded: Any fields you do not wish to include in the INSERT statement
INSERT INTO #tables (Name, IdField, IdInsert, Excluded) VALUES ('MyTable1', 'Id', 0, 'Created,Modified')
INSERT INTO #tables (Name, IdField, IdInsert, Excluded) VALUES ('MyTable2', 'Id', 1, 'Created,Modified')
DECLARE #numberTypes TABLE (sysId TINYINT)
-- This will ensure INT and BIT types are not surrounded with quotes in the
-- resultant INSERT statement, but you may need to add more (from sys.types)
INSERT #numberTypes(SysId) VALUES(56),(104)
DECLARE #rows INT = (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM #tables)
DECLARE #cnt INT = 1
DECLARE #results TABLE (Sql NVARCHAR(4000))
WHILE #cnt <= #rows
BEGIN
DECLARE #tablename AS NVARCHAR(128)
DECLARE #idField AS NVARCHAR(128)
DECLARE #idInsert AS BIT
DECLARE #excluded AS NVARCHAR(128)
SELECT
#tablename = Name,
#idField = IdField,
#idInsert = IdInsert,
#excluded = Excluded
FROM (SELECT *, ROW_NUMBER() OVER(ORDER BY (SELECT 1)) AS RowId FROM #tables) t WHERE t.RowId = #cnt
DECLARE #excludedFields TABLE (FieldName NVARCHAR(128))
DECLARE #xml AS XML = CAST(('<X>' + REPLACE(#excluded, ',', '</X><X>') + '</X>') AS XML)
INSERT INTO #excludedFields SELECT N.value('.', 'NVARCHAR(128)') FROM #xml.nodes('X') AS T(N)
DECLARE #setIdentity NVARCHAR(128) = 'SET IDENTITY_INSERT ' + #tablename
DECLARE #execsql AS NVARCHAR(4000) = 'SELECT ''' + CASE WHEN #idInsert = 1 THEN #setIdentity + ' ON' + CHAR(13) ELSE '' END + 'INSERT INTO ' + #tablename + ' ('
SELECT #execsql = #execsql +
STUFF
(
(
SELECT CASE WHEN NOT EXISTS(SELECT * FROM #excludedFields WHERE FieldName = name) THEN ', ' + name ELSE '' END
FROM sys.columns
WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID('dbo.' + #tablename)
FOR XML PATH('')
), 1, 2, ''
) +
')' + CHAR(13) + 'VALUES (' +
STUFF
(
(
SELECT
CASE WHEN NOT EXISTS(SELECT * FROM #excludedFields WHERE FieldName = name) THEN
''', '' + ISNULL(' +
CASE WHEN EXISTS(SELECT * FROM #numberTypes WHERE SysId = system_type_id) THEN '' ELSE ''''''''' + ' END +
'CAST(' + name + ' AS VARCHAR)' +
CASE WHEN EXISTS(SELECT * FROM #numberTypes WHERE SysId = system_type_id) THEN '' ELSE ' + ''''''''' END +
', ''NULL'') + '
ELSE ''
END
FROM sys.columns
WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID('dbo.' + #tablename)
FOR XML PATH('')
), 1, 3, ''
) +
''')' + CASE WHEN #idInsert = 1 THEN CHAR(13) + #setIdentity + ' OFF' ELSE '' END +
''' FROM ' + #tablename + ' WHERE ' + #idField + ' = ' + CAST(#id AS VARCHAR)
INSERT #results EXEC (#execsql)
DELETE #excludedFields
SET #cnt = #cnt + 1
END
DECLARE cur CURSOR FOR SELECT Sql FROM #results
OPEN cur
DECLARE #sql NVARCHAR(4000)
FETCH NEXT FROM cur INTO #sql
WHILE ##FETCH_STATUS = 0
BEGIN
PRINT #sql
FETCH NEXT FROM cur INTO #sql
END
CLOSE cur
DEALLOCATE cur
You can Choose 'Result to File' option in SSMS and export your select result to file and make your changes in result file and finally using BCP - Bulk copy you can insert in table 1 in database 2.
I think for bulk insert you have to convert .rpt file to .csv file
Hope it will help.
I had a similar problem, but I needed to be able to create an INSERT statement from a query (with filters etc.)
So I created following procedure:
CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.ConvertQueryToInsert (#input NVARCHAR(max), #target NVARCHAR(max)) AS BEGIN
DECLARE #fields NVARCHAR(max);
DECLARE #select NVARCHAR(max);
-- Get the defintion from sys.columns and assemble a string with the fields/transformations for the dynamic query
SELECT
#fields = COALESCE(#fields + ', ', '') + '[' + name +']',
#select = COALESCE(#select + ', ', '') + ''''''' + ISNULL(CAST([' + name + '] AS NVARCHAR(max)), ''NULL'')+'''''''
FROM tempdb.sys.columns
WHERE [object_id] = OBJECT_ID(N'tempdb..'+#input);
-- Run the a dynamic query with the fields from #select into a new temp table
CREATE TABLE #ConvertQueryToInsertTemp (strings nvarchar(max))
DECLARE #stmt NVARCHAR(max) = 'INSERT INTO #ConvertQueryToInsertTemp SELECT '''+ #select + ''' AS [strings] FROM '+#input
exec sp_executesql #stmt
-- Output the final insert statement
SELECT 'INSERT INTO ' + #target + ' (' + #fields + ') VALUES (' + REPLACE(strings, '''NULL''', 'NULL') +')' FROM #ConvertQueryToInsertTemp
-- Clean up temp tables
DROP TABLE #ConvertQueryToInsertTemp
SET #stmt = 'DROP TABLE ' + #input
exec sp_executesql #stmt
END
You can then use it by writing the output of your query into a temp table and running the procedure:
-- Example table
CREATE TABLE Dummy (Id INT, Comment NVARCHAR(50), TimeStamp DATETIME)
INSERT INTO Dummy VALUES (1 , 'Foo', GetDate()), (2, 'Bar', GetDate()), (3, 'Foo Bar', GetDate())
-- Run query and procedure
SELECT * INTO #TempTableForConvert FROM Dummy WHERE Id < 3
EXEC dbo.ConvertQueryToInsert '#TempTableForConvert', 'dbo.Dummy'
Note:
This procedure only casts the values to a string which can cause the data to look a bit different. With DATETIME for example the seconds will be lost.
I created the following procedure:
if object_id('tool.create_insert', 'P') is null
begin
exec('create procedure tool.create_insert as');
end;
go
alter procedure tool.create_insert(#schema varchar(200) = 'dbo',
#table varchar(200),
#where varchar(max) = null,
#top int = null,
#insert varchar(max) output)
as
begin
declare #insert_fields varchar(max),
#select varchar(max),
#error varchar(500),
#query varchar(max);
declare #values table(description varchar(max));
set nocount on;
-- Get columns
select #insert_fields = isnull(#insert_fields + ', ', '') + c.name,
#select = case type_name(c.system_type_id)
when 'varchar' then isnull(#select + ' + '', '' + ', '') + ' isnull('''''''' + cast(' + c.name + ' as varchar) + '''''''', ''null'')'
when 'datetime' then isnull(#select + ' + '', '' + ', '') + ' isnull('''''''' + convert(varchar, ' + c.name + ', 121) + '''''''', ''null'')'
else isnull(#select + ' + '', '' + ', '') + 'isnull(cast(' + c.name + ' as varchar), ''null'')'
end
from sys.columns c with(nolock)
inner join sys.tables t with(nolock) on t.object_id = c.object_id
inner join sys.schemas s with(nolock) on s.schema_id = t.schema_id
where s.name = #schema
and t.name = #table;
-- If there's no columns...
if #insert_fields is null or #select is null
begin
set #error = 'There''s no ' + #schema + '.' + #table + ' inside the target database.';
raiserror(#error, 16, 1);
return;
end;
set #insert_fields = 'insert into ' + #schema + '.' + #table + '(' + #insert_fields + ')';
if isnull(#where, '') <> '' and charindex('where', ltrim(rtrim(#where))) < 1
begin
set #where = 'where ' + #where;
end
else
begin
set #where = '';
end;
set #query = 'select ' + isnull('top(' + cast(#top as varchar) + ')', '') + #select + ' from ' + #schema + '.' + #table + ' with (nolock) ' + #where;
insert into #values(description)
exec(#query);
set #insert = isnull(#insert + char(10), '') + '--' + upper(#schema + '.' + #table);
select #insert = #insert + char(10) + #insert_fields + char(10) + 'values(' + v.description + ');' + char(10) + 'go' + char(10)
from #values v
where isnull(v.description, '') <> '';
end;
go
Then you can use it that way:
declare #insert varchar(max),
#part varchar(max),
#start int,
#end int;
set #start = 1;
exec tool.create_insert #schema = 'dbo',
#table = 'customer',
#where = 'id = 1',
#insert = #insert output;
-- Print one line to avoid the maximum 8000 characters problem
while len(#insert) > 0
begin
set #end = charindex(char(10), #insert);
if #end = 0
begin
set #end = len(#insert) + 1;
end;
print substring(#insert, #start, #end - 1);
set #insert = substring(#insert, #end + 1, len(#insert) - #end + 1);
end;
The output would be something like that:
--DBO.CUSTOMER
insert into dbo.customer(id, name, type)
values(1, 'CUSTOMER NAME', 'F');
go
If you just want to get a range of rows, use the #top parameter as bellow:
declare #insert varchar(max),
#part varchar(max),
#start int,
#end int;
set #start = 1;
exec tool.create_insert #schema = 'dbo',
#table = 'customer',
#top = 100,
#insert = #insert output;
-- Print one line to avoid the maximum 8000 characters problem
while len(#insert) > 0
begin
set #end = charindex(char(10), #insert);
if #end = 0
begin
set #end = len(#insert) + 1;
end;
print substring(#insert, #start, #end - 1);
set #insert = substring(#insert, #end + 1, len(#insert) - #end + 1);
end;
You can Use Sql Server Integration Service Packages specifically designed for Import and Export operation.
VS has a package for developing these packages if your fully install Sql Server.
Integration Services in Business Intelligence Development Studio
I think its also possible with adhoc queries
you can export result to excel file and then import that file into your datatable object or use it as it is and then import the excel file into the second database
have a look at this link
this can help u alot.
http://vscontrols.blogspot.com/2010/09/import-and-export-excel-to-sql-server.html
If you are using Oracle (or configure the application to the SQL Server) then Oracle SQL Developer does this for you. choose 'unload' for a table and follow the options through (untick DDL if you don't want all the table create stuff).
I found this SMSMS Boost addon, which is free and does exactly this among other things. You can right click on the results and select Script data as.
You can use this Q2C.SSMSPlugin, which is free and open source. You can right click and select "Execute Query To Command... -> Query To Insert...". Enjoy)
You can use an INSERT INTO SELECT statement, to insert the results of a select query into a table. http://www.w3schools.com/sql/sql_insert_into_select.asp
Example:
INSERT INTO Customers (CustomerName, Country)
SELECT SupplierName, Country
FROM Suppliers
WHERE Country='Germany'