In this article I want to show, how you can copy a single text or image value into or out of SQL Server with textcopy.exe utility. You can find this utility in the directory containing the standard SQL Server EXE files (C:MssqlBinn by default for SQL Server 6.5 and C:Mssql7Binn by default for SQL Server 7.0).
The Textcopy utility is not described in SQL Server Books Online, but you can get its description by typing textcopy /? from the command prompt. This is the description:
Copies a single text or image value into or out of SQL Server. The value
is a specified text or image 'column' of a single row (specified by the
"where clause") of the specified 'table'.
If the direction is IN (/I) then the data from the specified 'file' is
copied into SQL Server, replacing the existing text or image value. If the
direction is OUT (/O) then the text or image value is copied from
SQL Server into the specified 'file', replacing any existing file.
TEXTCOPY [/S [sqlserver]] [/U [login]] [/P [password]]
[/D [database]] [/T table] [/C column] [/W"where clause"]
[/F file] [{/I | /O}] [/K chunksize] [/Z] [/?]
/S sqlserver The SQL Server to connect to. If 'sqlserver' is not
specified, the local SQL Server is used.
/U login The login to connect with. If 'login' is not specified,
a trusted connection will be used.
/P password The password for 'login'. If 'password' is not
specified, a NULL password will be used.
/D database The database that contains the table with the text or
image data. If 'database' is not specified, the default
database of 'login' is used.
/T table The table that contains the text or image value.
/C column The text or image column of 'table'.
/W "where clause" A complete where clause (including the WHERE keyword)
that specifies a single row of 'table'.
/F file The file name.
/I Copy text or image value into SQL Server from 'file'.
/O Copy text or image value out of SQL Server into 'file'.
/K chunksize Size of the data transfer buffer in bytes. Minimum
value is 1024 bytes, default value is 4096 bytes.
/Z Display debug information while running.
/? Display this usage information and exit.
You will be prompted for any required options you did not specify.
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You can use the following stored procedure to simplify the using of textcopy utility:
CREATE PROCEDURE sp_textcopy (
@srvname varchar (30),
@login varchar (30),
@password varchar (30),
@dbname varchar (30),
@tbname varchar (30),
@colname varchar (30),
@filename varchar (30),
@whereclause varchar (40),
@direction char(1))
AS
DECLARE @exec_str varchar (255)
SELECT @exec_str =
'textcopy /S ' + @srvname +
' /U ' + @login +
' /P ' + @password +
' /D ' + @dbname +
' /T ' + @tbname +
' /C ' + @colname +
' /W "' + @whereclause +
'" /F ' + @filename +
' /' + @direction
EXEC master..xp_cmdshell @exec_str
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This is the example to copy image into SQL Server database pubs, table pub_info, column name logo from picture.bmp file where pub_id=’0736′:
sp_textcopy @srvname = 'ServerName',
@login = 'Login',
@password = 'Password',
@dbname = 'pubs',
@tbname = 'pub_info',
@colname = 'logo',
@filename = 'c:picture.bmp',
@whereclause = " WHERE pub_id='0736' ",
@direction = 'I'
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» See All Articles by Columnist Alexander Chigrik
I am the owner of MSSQLCity.Com - a site dedicated to providing useful information for IT professionals using Microsoft SQL Server. This site contains SQL Server Articles, FAQs, Scripts, Tips and Test Exams.
