Want to bulk import XML files into SQL Server tables at one time?
Try Withdata FileToDB, a desktop XML to SQL Server converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert XML to SQL Server, Easy and Fast.
- Can run in GUI mode, Step by Step, just a few mouse clicks.
- Can run in Command line, for Scheduled Tasks and Streams.
- Import XML to SQL Server locally and privately, avoid uploading XML file(s) to online services.
- Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Bulk import XML files into SQL Server tables
Login to SQL Server -> Choose XML files -> Set SQL Server tables -> Import XML files to SQL Server tables
Choose SQL Server and logon.
Click “Wizard – N Files To N Tables” at task dialog.
Select the “XML” file type.
then show the wizard.
1. Select a folder that constains XML files.
2. Config first XML file importing options.
3. Set “Import Type”.
4. Map SQL Server tables to XML files.
5. Summary. Set “Convert Rows” and “Skip Rows” if need.
6. Import XML files to SQL Server tables, 1 file to 1 table, one by one.
View imported data in SQL Server table
More about XML to SQL Server converter
Download Withdata FileToDB
See also:
XML → SQL Server reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in XML | in SQL Server |
|---|---|---|
| Int | <int>1234</int> | int |
| Bigint | <bigint>9007199254740993</bigint> | bigint |
| Decimal | <decimal>1234.56</decimal> | decimal(p,s) |
| Float | <float>1.234e10</float> | float |
| Text | <char>text</char> | nvarchar(n) |
| Long text | <text>multi-line text</text> (entities for & <) | nvarchar(max) |
| Date | <date>2026-09-18</date> (xs:date with an XSD) | date |
| Datetime | <datetime>2026-09-18T14:30:00Z</datetime> (xs:dateTime) | datetime2 |
| Binary | <blob>base64...</blob> (xs:base64Binary) | varbinary(max) |
| Boolean | <bool>true</bool> | bit |
| JSON | escaped inside an element, or its own sub-tree | nvarchar(max) |
Dialect differences
XML is a file format and SQL Server is a database server, so the target has to be told the types the file never carried - the rows below are where the two sides diverge.
| Property | in XML | in SQL Server |
|---|---|---|
| port | — | 1433 |
| identifiers | Attribute values in quotes; entities (& < >) for ... | [square brackets] |
| row limit | — | SELECT TOP n |
| dates | Text (xs:date / xs:dateTime when an XSD is in play) | datetime, datetime2, date, time |
| long text | — | nvarchar(max) |
| binary | base64Binary / hexBinary inside text | varbinary(max) |
| separator | Tags, not delimiters | — |
| encoding | Declared in the XML declaration | — |
| typing | None in the markup itself | — |
| shape | Arbitrary tree | Tables of rows and columns |
| ceiling | Whole document is usually parsed into memory | — |
Command line
| Side | Command |
|---|---|
| SQL Server | bcp |
| SQL Server (load) | bcp, or BULK INSERT |
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