Question

bcp import to overwrite data

Asked by: Hasp

Hi all,

I'm using BCP to bulk insert data into an SQL Server 6.5 database. I run into trouble when portions of the data imported have primary keys of data already present in the database. In these cases the previous data remains and the newer data with the same primary key is lost.

Is there a way the bcp application can be used to overwrite records in cases where a record already exists for a given key?

Any help much appreciated.

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Asked On
1999-06-18 at 05:59:38ID10173039
Tags

bcp

,

overwrite

Topic

MS SQL Server

Participating Experts
2
Points
50
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: simonsabinPosted on 1999-06-18 at 06:23:24ID: 1095740

unfortumatley it is not like SQL loader. You would have to BCP to another table. Delete the duplicate rows and then copy the data across

 

by: spiridonovPosted on 1999-06-18 at 06:46:41ID: 1095741

You can do it in a batch file, first call isql to truncate table and then call bcp to load data.

 

by: HaspPosted on 1999-06-18 at 06:47:03ID: 1095742

Hi Simonsabin,

Do you have any recommendations for going about deleting the duplicate rows? (The source table will contain 3-8 million records and each batch will have in the region of 10,000 records.)

Thanx

 

by: HaspPosted on 1999-06-18 at 06:49:10ID: 1095743

Spiridinov,

I am still left with the issue of how best to approach truncating the table. Have you any recommendations?

 

by: HaspPosted on 1999-06-18 at 06:50:31ID: 1095744

Spiridinov,

I am still left with the issue of how best to approach truncating the table. Have you any recommendations?

 

by: simonsabinPosted on 1999-06-18 at 06:54:22ID: 1095745

This is the quickest. you will need an index on the PK

DELETE FROM source s where exists (SELECT 1 FROM batch b WHERE b.pk = s.pk)

 

by: HaspPosted on 1999-06-18 at 07:05:24ID: 1095746

Simonsabin,

Ok, sounds good. And copying the data across to the destination table?

Cheers

 

by: simonsabinPosted on 1999-06-18 at 07:08:14ID: 1095747

INSERT INTO source SELECT * FROM batch

simple heh!

 

by: simonsabinPosted on 1999-06-18 at 07:13:22ID: 1095748

I have just found this it might be quicker.

DELETE FROM source
FROM batch b where b.pk= source.pk

this is sql server specific

 

by: HaspPosted on 1999-06-18 at 07:35:59ID: 1095749

Ok Simonsabin. You've been very helpful thanks. Post an answer and the points are yours.

Cheers.

 

by: simonsabinPosted on 1999-06-18 at 07:37:15ID: 1095750

answer as below

Cheers

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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