Batch Import XML into SQL Server SQL Server LOB columns

Want to batch import XML documents into SQL Server [TEXT, NTEXT, VARCHAR(MAX), NVARCHAR(MAX)] (CLOB) column?

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Batch import XML documents to SQL Server [TEXT, NTEXT, VARCHAR(MAX), NVARCHAR(MAX)] (CLOB) column

Run DBBlobEditor, login to SQL Server.

Batch import xml files into SQL Server [TEXT, NTEXT, VARCHAR(MAX), NVARCHAR(MAX)] (CLOB) - login to SQL Server

Click “Start New Task – Import LOB From Files” at task dialog.

Batch import xml files into SQL Server [TEXT, NTEXT, VARCHAR(MAX), NVARCHAR(MAX)] (CLOB) - Task Window

then show the wizard.

1. Configure import XML settings.

Batch insert xml files into SQL Server [TEXT, NTEXT, VARCHAR(MAX), NVARCHAR(MAX)] (CLOB) - config

2. Bulk import XML files to SQL Server [TEXT, NTEXT, VARCHAR(MAX), NVARCHAR(MAX)] (CLOB).

Batch save xml files into SQL Server [TEXT, NTEXT, VARCHAR(MAX), NVARCHAR(MAX)] (CLOB) - import

then you can see importing results

Batch import xml files into SQL Server [TEXT, NTEXT, VARCHAR(MAX), NVARCHAR(MAX)] (CLOB) - view

More about SQL Server [TEXT, NTEXT, VARCHAR(MAX), NVARCHAR(MAX)] (CLOB) importer

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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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Batch import XML into SQL Server TEXT / NTEXT / VARCHAR(MAX) / NVARCHAR(MAX)