Want to bulk import Excel files into SQL Server tables at one time?
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.
Bulk import Excel files into SQL Server tables
Login to SQL Server -> Choose Excel files -> Set SQL Server tables -> Import Excel files to SQL Server tables
Choose SQL Server and logon.
Click “Wizard – N Files To N Tables” at task dialog.
Select the “Excel” file type.
then show the wizard.
1. Select a folder that constains Excel files.
2. Config first Excel file importing options.
3. Set “Import Type”.
4. Map SQL Server tables to Excel files.
5. Summary. Set “Convert Rows” and “Skip Rows” if need.
6. Import Excel files to SQL Server tables, 1 file to 1 table, one by one.
View imported data in SQL Server table
More about Excel to SQL Server converter
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See also:
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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