asked on

how to import comma separated text file in sql table using c#

I need to write a console application using c# to import a comma separated text file into sql table.
If the sql table already has lien code, It should update the record else it should insert a new row.
I am attaching the text file. I have added column names for your reference. The first column is a fixed lenght of 52 characters and the remaining are comma separated.
lien.txt

Fernando Soto

There is no automatic way that I know of that will take a comma separated file and do what you ant it to do. You will need to parse the lines place them into variables and build SQL statements to insert or update the tables.

dustock

I had this block of code from an old homework assignment. Since I'm not sure how your going about connecting to your database and inserting records or checking if records exist I have stripped most of that out. If you need help with that let me know what you have already.

syntax to run this would be:

c:\yourfilepath\programname.exe -F pathtofiletoimport
eg
c:\users\user1\Desktop\Program.exe -F c:\temp\data.csv

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            String strFile = "";
            StreamReader srData = null;
            String strRecord;
            String[] strFields;
            
            //Create variables to hold the data
            String strBusinessName = "";

            // Check for parameter list
            if (args.Length < 1)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Filename parameter is missing");
                Environment.Exit(-1);
            }

            // Validate filename parameter
            for (intIdx = 0; intIdx < args.Length; intIdx++)
            {
                if (args[0].ToString().StartsWith("-F"))
                {
                    strFile = args[0].ToString().Substring(2);
                }
            }

                srData = new StreamReader(strFile);

                //Open a connection to your database

                while (srData .Peek() > 0)
                {
                    strRecord = srEmp.ReadLine();
                    strFields = strRecord.Split(",".ToCharArray());
                    Int32 intFieldCount = strFields.Count();

                    //Check to see if you have the right number of fields
                    if (strFields.Length == 11) //This was the number of fields I counted from your sample file
                    {
                        //Validate fields in the record
                        Boolean insertRecs = true;

                        //Do any checking you want here, make insertRecs false if the error checking fails
			if ()
				strBusinessName = strFields[0].ToString();
			else
				insertRecs = false;

                        if (insertRecs == true)
                        {
                            //If the record doesnt exist, insert a new one
                            if () //What ever code you have to check if the record exists
                            {
				//Build up your insert statement using the variables you've assigned the data to
			    }
                        }
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        //Display error
                    }
                    Console.WriteLine();
                }
		//Close and dispose of your database connection and StreamReader
                cnSQL.Close();
                cnSQL.Dispose();
                srEmp.Close();
                srEmp.Dispose();
           }

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Meinhoonaa

ASKER

I have written a program to insert the records from the text file to the sql table. However, I need help to set the is_active status to 'N' for the existing records before I insert the new records. My code shown below:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Configuration;
using System.IO;
using System.Data;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
using StateLienholdersReader.Common;

namespace StateLienholderReader
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string file = @"c:\SC\liens.txt";
//string[] sourceFiles = Directory.GetFiles(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["sc_file_path"], "*.txt");

List<string> list = new List<string>();
using (StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(file))
{
string line;
while ((line = reader.ReadLine()) != null)
{
list.Add(line); // Add to list.
//Console.WriteLine(line); // Write to console.
}
}

using (SqlConnection cn = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["sc_DSN"]))
{
string sql = "INSERT INTO sc_lienholder(lienholder_code,name,address,address2,city,state,zipcode,business_type,is_active,insert_dtim,insert_person) VALUES(@lienholder_code,@name,@address,@address2,@city,@state,@zipcode,@business_type,@is_active,@insert_dtim,@insert_person)";

// define the SqlCommmand to do the insert - use the using() approach again
using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(sql, cn))
{
cn.Open();

for (int index = 0; index < list.Count; index++)
{
string[] items = list[index].Substring(53).Split(new char[] { ',' });
string item = list[index].Substring(0, 51);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@name", item.Replace("'",""));
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@address", items[4]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@address2", items[5]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@city", items[6]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@state", items[7]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@zipcode", items[8]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@lienholder_code", items[9]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@business_type", items[10].Trim());
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@is_active", "Y");
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@insert_dtim", DateTime.Now);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@insert_person", "Batch Job");
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
cmd.Parameters.Clear();
}
cn.Close();
}
}
}
}
}

dustock

I'm not sure I understand the question. What records are you looking to set is_active status to 'N'? Are you trying to set any existing items in the table to is_active = 'N' or are there specific records you want to set to is_active = 'N'?

Meinhoonaa

ASKER

Never mind, I fugured it out.

dustock

Awesome

Meinhoonaa

ASKER

how do I continue inserting into the sql table if there is error. code below:

using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(sql, cn))
{
cn.Open();
for (int index = 0; index < list.Count; index++)
try
{
string[] items = list[index].Substring(53).Split(new char[] { ',' });
string item = list[index].Substring(0, 51);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@name", item.Replace("'", ""));
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@address", items[4]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@address2", items[5]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@city", items[6]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@state", items[7]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@zipcode", items[8]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@lienholder_code", items[9]);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@business_type", items[10].Trim());
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@is_active", "Y");
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@insert_dtim", DateTime.Now);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@insert_person", "Batch Job");
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
cmd.Parameters.Clear();
Logger.Instance.LogEvent(String.Format("{0} lienholders copied", index));
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Logger.Instance.LogException(String.Format("Exception: {0}", ex.Message), ex);
Emailer.SendMail(ex.Message, "Error in South Carolina Lien Console Application");
}

{
cn.Close();
}

dustock

You could wrap it in another try/catch block

 using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(sql, cn))
                    {
                        cn.Open();
                        for (int index = 0; index < list.Count; index++)
                            try
                            {
                                try
                                {
                                string[] items = list[index].Substring(53).Split(new char[] { ',' });
                                string item = list[index].Substring(0, 51);
                                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@name", item.Replace("'", ""));
                                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@address", items[4]);
                                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@address2", items[5]);
                                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@city", items[6]);
                                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@state", items[7]);
                                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@zipcode", items[8]);
                                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@lienholder_code", items[9]);
                                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@business_type", items[10].Trim());
                                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@is_active", "Y");
                                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@insert_dtim", DateTime.Now);
                                cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@insert_person", "Batch Job");
                                cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
                                cmd.Parameters.Clear();
                                Logger.Instance.LogEvent(String.Format("{0} lienholders copied", index));
                                }
                                catch
                                {
                                      \\Add the errors to a stringbuilder or something else that is global or instantiated outside of this block and then list anything that errored out at the end
                                }
                            }
                            catch (Exception ex)
                            {
                                Logger.Instance.LogException(String.Format("Exception: {0}", ex.Message), ex);
                                Emailer.SendMail(ex.Message, "Error in South Carolina Lien Console Application");
                            }

                        {
                            cn.Close();
                        }

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Meinhoonaa

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dustock

If you figured it out can you please post your solution. The idea behind this side is for users to not only post question but to be able to look at answered questions to see if there is a solution that can help them. When you accept "Never mind, I figured it out" as the solution it doesn't help other users on this site.

Thank you

Meinhoonaa

ASKER

ccc