Import data from XML file to SQL Server

Want to import data from XML file to SQL Server ?

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.

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Import data from XML file to SQL Server

load XML data to SQL Server table - Choose SQL Server and logon

Click “Wizard – 1 File To 1 Table” at task dialog.

import XML data to SQL Server table - task window

Select the “XML” file type.

Import XML file data to SQL Server table - select file type

then show the wizard.

1. Open a XML file.

Support large ( > 4GB ) XML file.

Import Data From XML File To SQL Server - open XML file

Here is the file’s content.

Import Data From XML File To SQL Server - source XML file

2. Select a SQL Server table and config fields.

Load Data From XML File To SQL Server - select table

3. Preview data will be in SQL Server table.

Transfer Data From XML File To SQL Server - preview

4. Import XML data to SQL Server.

Import Data From XML File To SQL Server - import data

View imported data in SQL Server table

Convert XML to SQL Server - view data

More about XML to SQL Server converter

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See Video: Import data from XML file to SQL Server table in a few clicks

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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