Want to import data from TSV file to SQL Server?
Try Withdata FileToDB, a desktop TSV to SQL Server converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert TSV 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 TSV file(s) to online services.
- Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Import data from TSV file to SQL Server
Login to SQL Server -> Choose TSV file -> Set SQL Server table -> Import TSV to SQL Server
Choose SQL Server and logon.
Click “Wizard – 1 File To 1 Table” at task dialog.
Select the “TSV” file type.
then show the wizard.
1. Open a TSV file.
Support large ( > 4GB ) TSV file.
Here is the file’s content.
2. Select a SQL Server table and config fields.
3. Preview data will be in SQL Server table.
4. Import TSV data to SQL Server.
View imported data in SQL Server table
Import TSV to SQL Server in command line
Save “TSV to SQL Server” session, then you can:
- Import TSV to SQL Server in Windows command line.
- Import TSV to SQL Server in Linux command line.
- Import TSV to SQL Server in macOS command line.
Set scheduled tasks for importing TSV to SQL Server
You can schedule and automate this “TSV to SQL Server” conversion task by:
- Save session and create .bat (Windows) or .sh (Linux/macOS) file for “TSV to SQL Server” conversion.
- Set scheduled task for “TSV to SQL Server” conversion.
FAQ
What is Withdata FileToDB?
How long does it take to import TSV data to SQL Server?
Is it safe to import TSV data to SQL Server using FileToDB?
Can I import TSV data to SQL Server on Linux, Mac OS?
Can I import TSV data to SQL Server in command line?
More about Withdata FileToDB – TSV to SQL Server converter
Download Withdata FileToDB
See also:
- SQL Server import multiple TSV files into a single table
- Bulk import TSV files into SQL Server tables
TSV → SQL Server reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in TSV | in SQL Server |
|---|---|---|
| Int | 1234 | int |
| Bigint | 9007199254740993 | bigint |
| Decimal | 1234.56 | decimal(p,s) |
| Float | 1.234e+10 | float |
| Text | unquoted; a tab in the value splits the column | nvarchar(n) |
| Long text | unquoted; newlines break the row | nvarchar(max) |
| Date | 2026-09-18 | date |
| Datetime | 2026-09-18 14:30:00 | datetime2 |
| Binary | not representable | varbinary(max) |
| Boolean | TRUE / FALSE | bit |
| JSON | the whole JSON value as-is (its own quotes stay) | nvarchar(max) |
Dialect differences
TSV 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 TSV | in SQL Server |
|---|---|---|
| port | — | 1433 |
| identifiers | Rarely used, which is exactly why tabs in data break it | [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 - must be encoded | varbinary(max) |
| separator | Tab | — |
| 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 | — |
Command line
| Side | Command |
|---|---|
| SQL Server | bcp |
| SQL Server (load) | bcp, or BULK INSERT |
Convert your data online, free
Free in-browser converters for CSV, Excel, JSON, XML and SQL: Withdata Online Data Conversion. Large files, batch conversion or scheduling? See the offline desktop apps, or browse all data conversion tools.
New to the format? Read what a TSV file is (and how it differs from CSV).
