Want to import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files into a single SQL Server table?
Try Withdata FileToDB, a desktop TXT to SQL Server converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert TXT 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.
- Convert locally and privately, avoid uploading large or private TXT files to online services.
- Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Download FileToDB
Windows 64 bit
Windows 32 bit
Linux .deb (For Debian, Ubuntu) 64 bit
Linux .rpm (For Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE) 64 bit
MacOS 64 bit
Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files into a single SQL Server table
Login to SQL Server -> Choose TXT files -> Set SQL Server table -> Import TXT files to SQL Server table
Choose SQL Server and logon.
Click “Wizard – N Files To 1 Table” at task dialog.
Select the “TXT” file type.
then show the wizard.
1. Select a folder that constains TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files.
Support large ( > 4GB ) TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files.
2. Config first TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) file importing options.
3. Select a SQL Server table and config fields.
4. Preview data will be in SQL Server table.
5. Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to the SQL Server table.
View imported data in SQL Server table
Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to SQL Server in command line
Save “multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to SQL Server” session, then you can:
- Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to SQL Server in Windows command line.
- Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to SQL Server in Linux command line.
- Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to SQL Server in macOS command line.
Set scheduled tasks for importing multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to SQL Server
You can schedule and automate this converting task by:
- Save session and create .bat (Windows) or .sh (Linux/macOS) file for “TXT to SQL Server” conversion.
- Set scheduled task for “TXT to SQL Server” conversion.
FAQ
More about Withdata FileToDB – TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) to SQL Server converter
Download Withdata FileToDB
Windows 64 bit
Windows 32 bit
Linux .deb (For Debian, Ubuntu) 64 bit
Linux .rpm (For Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE) 64 bit
MacOS 64 bit
See also:
Pipe-delimited text → SQL Server reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in Pipe-delimited text | in SQL Server |
|---|---|---|
| Int | 1234 | int |
| Bigint | 9007199254740993 | bigint |
| Decimal | 1234.56 | decimal(p,s) |
| Float | 1.234e+10 | float |
| Text | quoted only when it contains a pipe or a quote | nvarchar(n) |
| Long text | must be quoted; line breaks inside force multi-line records | nvarchar(max) |
| Date | 2026-09-18 | date |
| Datetime | 2026-09-18 14:30:00 | datetime2 |
| Binary | not representable - base64 or hex string | varbinary(max) |
| Boolean | TRUE / FALSE, or 1 / 0 depending on the writer | bit |
| JSON | the whole JSON value quoted, with internal quotes doubled | nvarchar(max) |
Dialect differences
Pipe-delimited text 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 Pipe-delimited text | in SQL Server |
|---|---|---|
| port | — | 1433 |
| identifiers | Double quotes; a literal quote is doubled ("" ) | [square brackets] |
| row limit | — | SELECT TOP n |
| dates | Conventional text: 2026-09-18 or 2026-09-18 14:30:00 | datetime, datetime2, date, time |
| long text | — | nvarchar(max) |
| binary | Not supported | varbinary(max) |
| separator | Pipe "|" | — |
| encoding | No declaration - UTF-8 works only with a BOM | — |
| typing | None - every field is text | — |
| shape | Flat table, optional header row | Tables of rows and columns |
| 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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