Effortless Guide to Export SQL Server Table to CSV Format

Export SQL Server table to CSV is a common requirement when working with SQL Server for reporting, analytics, or migrating data. Although SQL Server natively has a couple of methods for exporting tables. This write-up reviews the manual methods as a working knowledge of exporting to CSV and includes a brief introduction to the SQL Database Recovery Tool to export the tables directly into CSV format easily.
Download Now Purchase Now

Why Export MS SQL Table to CSV?

Exporting SQL tables to CSV is helpful for many reasons:

• CSV files are lightweight and compatible with Excel, Google Sheets, and other applications.
• CSV is supported by almost every operating system and database tool.
• Helps move tables into other databases, BI tools, or cloud applications.
• Analysts prefer CSV because it avoids formatting issues in spreadsheets.

Manual Methods to Export SQL Server Table to CSV

It is necessary to be aware of the options for exporting SQL Server tables to a CSV file. SQL Server provides a couple of methods available, each with a specific purpose, benefits, and limitations.

1. Export Table from SQL Server to CSV Using SSMS

This is the most standard approach for database administrators – SSMS has a built-in “Import and Export Wizard” that allows you to transfer data from SQL Server to different formats, including CSV.

Follow these steps:

1. Firstly, open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to your database.
2. Then, right-click the database -> select Tasks -> choose Export Data.
3. After that, the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard opens.
4. Select SQL Server Native Client as the data source.
5. Thereafter, for the destination, choose Flat File Destination.
6. Enter the CSV file path and name.
7. Furthermore, pick the table you want to export.
8. Review the mapping and click Finish.
9. Finally, SSMS will export the selected table to a CSV file.

2. Save SQL Server Table as CSV Using SQL Query

This method contains SQL queries or CLI (Command Line Interface) tools, such as BCP (Bulk Copy Program), to output a CSV file. This is a more direct, script-centric export option.

Run the following query in SSMS:

EXEC xp_cmdshell ‘bcp “SELECT * FROM DatabaseName.dbo.TableName” queryout “C:\output.csv” -c -t, -T’;

Export SQL Server Table to CSV Effortlessly

The SQL Database Recovery Tool will recover your damaged MySQL database and let you do so safely. You can inspect the contents before saving. There are multiple export options built into the tool, saving to a newly-created MySQL database, generating a SQL script, or simply exporting tables to CSV. The internal CSV option is good for getting usable data to report on or for migrations.

Steps to Convert SQL Server Table to CSV format

1. Firstly, download and launch the SQL Recovery Tool.
2. Then, choose the MDF file and select the Recovery Mode.
3. After that, preview and select files to export in CSV.
4. Finally, click on Save to CSV at the top bar.
5. Choose your location and click OK to complete the process. 

Conclusion

To conclude, export SQL Server table to CSV files can be straightforward, but large files and corrupted files lead to failures and errors. SSMS and BCP provide usable methodologies, but using the SQL Database Recovery Tool can provide a quicker, cleaner method with no failures. Moreover, this tool provides an option to directly export to CSV. The utility supports exporting only clean, accurate, and fully usable CSV files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Post