Want to import data from Excel file to SQL Server ?
Try Withdata FileToDB, a desktop Excel to SQL Server converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert Excel 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 Excel to SQL Server locally and privately, avoid uploading Excel file(s) to online services.
- Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Import data from Excel to SQL Server in 4 steps
Choose Excel file -> Set SQL Server table -> Preview SQL Server table -> Import Excel to SQL Server
Choose SQL Server and logon.
Click “Wizard – 1 File To 1 Table” for “Excel to SQL Server”.
Select the “Excel” file type.
then show the wizard.
Step #1. Open an Excel file.
Step #2. Select a SQL Server table and config fields.
Step #3. Preview SQL Server table.
Step #4. Import Excel to SQL Server.
More about Excel to SQL Server converter
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EXCEL → SQL Server reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in EXCEL | in SQL Server |
|---|---|---|
| Int | 1234 (a real numeric cell) | int |
| Bigint | 9007199254740993 (exact only while the cell stays text) | bigint |
| Decimal | 1234.56 (numeric cell, format controls the displayed decimals) | decimal(p,s) |
| Float | 1.234E+10 (numeric cell) | float |
| Text | text cell; leading zeros survive only if the column is text | nvarchar(n) |
| Long text | text cell; wraps inside the cell rather than the row | nvarchar(max) |
| Date | a serial number plus a date cell format | date |
| Datetime | a serial number plus a date-time cell format | datetime2 |
| Binary | not representable as data | varbinary(max) |
| Boolean | TRUE / FALSE (a real boolean cell) | bit |
| JSON | a text cell; the quotes are part of the value | nvarchar(max) |
Dialect differences
EXCEL 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 EXCEL | in SQL Server |
|---|---|---|
| port | — | 1433 |
| identifiers | Not applicable; a cell holds exactly one value | [square brackets] |
| row limit | — | SELECT TOP n |
| dates | Stored as a serial number; only the cell format makes it lo... | datetime, datetime2, date, time |
| long text | — | nvarchar(max) |
| binary | Only as text or an embedded object, not as a data column | varbinary(max) |
| separator | Cells, not delimiters | — |
| encoding | UTF-8 internally, declared in the package | — |
| typing | Real cell types: text, number, date, boolean, error | — |
| shape | Multiple sheets, each a flat grid | Tables of rows and columns |
| ceiling | 1,048,576 rows x 16,384 columns per sheet; 255 sheets per w... | — |
Command line
| Side | Command |
|---|---|
| SQL Server | bcp |
| SQL Server (load) | bcp, or BULK INSERT |
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