SQL Server® 2008 Administration: Real World Skills for MCITP Certification and Beyond

Importing and Exporting Data

Another method used to distribute data is to export the data from one database and import it into another. This can be accomplished using different methods in SQL Server, and this section will introduce you to the basic techniques at your disposal. These techniques are also used to import data from flat text files. These text files may be generated from mainframes or legacy database systems and then imported into SQL Server for ongoing modification or for analysis purposes.

When importing data from flat files, you should consider the following factors:

Source Location If the data is located on a network share, the limitations of the network may slow the bulk import of the data. This can happen when the data is being ...