Want to unload data from SQL Server schema to CSV files?
Using DBToFile, a native GUI tool, you can export data from SQL Server schema to CSV files, easily and fast.
- Step by step, just a few mouse clicks.
- Support schedule and automate converting task.
- Support Windows, Linux, macOS.
Unload Data From Sql Server Schema To CSV Files – Video
SQL Server → CSV reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in SQL Server | in CSV |
|---|---|---|
| Int | int | 1234 |
| Bigint | bigint | 9007199254740993 |
| Decimal | decimal(p,s) | 1234.56 |
| Float | float | 1.234e+10 |
| Text | nvarchar(n) | quoted only when it contains a comma or a quote |
| Long text | nvarchar(max) | must be quoted; line breaks inside force multi-line records |
| Date | date | 2026-09-18 |
| Datetime | datetime2 | 2026-09-18 14:30:00 |
| Binary | varbinary(max) | not representable - base64 or hex string |
| Boolean | bit | TRUE / FALSE, or 1 / 0 depending on the writer |
| JSON | nvarchar(max) | the whole JSON value quoted, with internal quotes doubled |
Dialect differences
SQL Server is a database server and CSV is a file format, so the gap is wider than a dialect difference - the rows below are where values and structure stop lining up.
| Property | in SQL Server | in CSV |
|---|---|---|
| port | 1433 | — |
| identifiers | [square brackets] | Double quotes; a literal quote is doubled ("" ) |
| row limit | SELECT TOP n | — |
| dates | datetime, datetime2, date, time | Conventional text: 2026-09-18 or 2026-09-18 14:30:00 |
| long text | nvarchar(max) | — |
| binary | varbinary(max) | Not supported |
| separator | — | Comma "," |
| encoding | — | No declaration - UTF-8 works only with a BOM |
| typing | — | None - every field is text |
| shape | Tables of rows and columns | Flat table, optional header row |
| ceiling | — | No formal limit; row count bounded by memory |
Command line
| Side | Command |
|---|---|
| SQL Server | bcp |
| SQL Server (load) | bcp, or BULK INSERT |
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