Converting Select results into Insert script - SQL Server

Question

I have SQL Server 2008, SQL Server Management Studio.

I need to select data from a table in one database and insert into another table in another database.

How can I convert the returned results from my select into INSERT INTO ...?

Clarification from comments: While I believe this could be solved by a INSERT INTO SELECT or SELECT INTO, I do need to generate INSERT INTO ....

Answer 1

Here is another method, which may be easier than installing plugins or external tools in some situations:

• Do a select [whatever you need]INTO temp.table_namefrom [... etc ...].
• Right-click on the database in the Object Explorer => Tasks => Generate Scripts
• Select temp.table_name in the "Choose Objects" screen, click Next.
• In the "Specify how scripts should be saved" screen:
  • Click Advanced, find the "Types of data to Script" property, select "Data only", close the advanced properties.
  • Select "Save to new query window" (unless you have thousands of records).
• Click Next, wait for the job to complete, observe the resulting INSERT statements appear in a new query window.
• Use Find & Replace to change all [temp.table_name] to [your_table_name].
• drop table [temp.table_name].

Answer 2

In SSMS:

• Right click on the database > Tasks > Generate Scripts

• Next

• Select "Select specific database objects" and check the table you want scripted, Next

• Click Advanced > in the list of options, scroll down to the bottom and look for the "Types of data to script" and change it to "Data Only" > OK

• Select "Save to new query window" > Next > Next > Finish

All 180 rows now written as 180 insert statements!

Answer 3

Native method:

for example if you have table

Users(Id, name)

You can do this:

select 'insert into Table values(Id=' + Id + ', name=' + name + ')' from Users

Answer 4

1- Explanation of Scripts

A)Syntax for inserting data in table is as below

Insert into table(col1,col2,col3,col4,col5)    

             -- To achieve this part i    
             --have used below variable
                ------@CSV_COLUMN-------

values(Col1 data in quote, Col2..quote,..Col5..quote)

-- To achieve this part 
-- i.e column data in 
--quote i have used 
--below variable
----@QUOTED_DATA---

C)To get above data from existing table we have to write the select query in such way that the output will be in form of as above scripts

D)Then Finally i have Concatenated above variable to create final script that's will generate insert script on execution

E)

@TEXT='SELECT ''INSERT INTO
 '+@TABLE_NAME+'('+@CSV_COLUMN+')VALUES('''+'+'+SUBSTRING(@QUOTED_DATA,1,LEN(@QUOTED_DATA)-5)+'+'+''')'''+' Insert_Scripts FROM '+@TABLE_NAME + @FILTER_CONDITION

F)And Finally Executed the above query EXECUTE(TEXT)

G)QUOTENAME() function is used to wrap column data inside quote

H)ISNULL is used because if any row has NULL data for any column the query fails and return NULL thats why to avoid that i have used ISNULL

I)And created the sp sp_generate_insertscripts for same

1- Just put the table name for which you want insert script

2- Filter condition if you want specific results

----------Final Procedure To generate Script------

CREATE PROCEDURE sp_generate_insertscripts
(
    @TABLE_NAME VARCHAR(MAX),
    @FILTER_CONDITION VARCHAR(MAX)=''
)
AS
BEGIN

SET NOCOUNT ON

DECLARE @CSV_COLUMN VARCHAR(MAX),
        @QUOTED_DATA VARCHAR(MAX),
        @TEXT VARCHAR(MAX)

SELECT @CSV_COLUMN=STUFF
(
    (
     SELECT ',['+ NAME +']' FROM sys.all_columns 
     WHERE OBJECT_ID=OBJECT_ID(@TABLE_NAME) AND 
     is_identity!=1 FOR XML PATH('')
    ),1,1,''
)

SELECT @QUOTED_DATA=STUFF
(
    (
     SELECT ' ISNULL(QUOTENAME('+NAME+','+QUOTENAME('''','''''')+'),'+'''NULL'''+')+'','''+'+' FROM sys.all_columns 
     WHERE OBJECT_ID=OBJECT_ID(@TABLE_NAME) AND 
     is_identity!=1 FOR XML PATH('')
    ),1,1,''
)

SELECT @TEXT='SELECT ''INSERT INTO '+@TABLE_NAME+'('+@CSV_COLUMN+')VALUES('''+'+'+SUBSTRING(@QUOTED_DATA,1,LEN(@QUOTED_DATA)-5)+'+'+''')'''+' Insert_Scripts FROM '+@TABLE_NAME + @FILTER_CONDITION

--SELECT @CSV_COLUMN AS CSV_COLUMN,@QUOTED_DATA AS QUOTED_DATA,@TEXT TEXT

EXECUTE (@TEXT)

SET NOCOUNT OFF

END

Answer 5

SSMS Toolpack (which is FREE as in beer) has a variety of great features - including generating INSERT statements from tables.

Update: for SQL Server Management Studio 2012 (and newer), SSMS Toolpack is no longer free, but requires a modest licensing fee.

Answer 6

It's possible to do via Visual Studio SQL Server Object Explorer.

You can click "View Data" from context menu for necessary table, filter results and save result as script.

Answer 7

Using visual studio, do the following

Create a project of type SQL Server-->SQL Server Database Project

open the sql server explorer CTL-\ , CTL-S

add a SQL Server by right clicking on the SQL SERVER icon. Selcet ADD NEW SERVER

navigate down to the table you are interested in

right click--> VIEW DATA

Click the top left cell to highlight everything (ctl-A doesnt seem to work)

Right Click -->SCript

This is fabulous. I have tried everything listed above over the years. I know there is a tool out there that will do this and much more, cant think of the name of it. But it is very expensive.

Good luck. I just figured this out. Have not tested it extensively w/ text fields etc, but it looks like it gets you a long ways down the road.

Greg

Answer 8

Create a separate table using into statement For example

Select * into Test_123 from [dbo].[Employee] where Name like '%Test%'

Go to the Database Right Click the Database Click on Generate Script Select your table Select advanace option and select the Attribute "Data Only" Select the file "open in new query"

Sql will generate script for you

Answer 9

This is a more versatile solution (that can do a little more than the question asks), and can be used in a query window without having to create a new stored proc - useful in production databases for instance where you don't have write access.

To use the code, please modify according to the in line comments which explain its usage. You can then just run this query in a query window and it will print the INSERT statements you require.

SET NOCOUNT ON

-- Set the ID you wish to filter on here
DECLARE @id AS INT = 123

DECLARE @tables TABLE (Name NVARCHAR(128), IdField NVARCHAR(128), IdInsert BIT, Excluded NVARCHAR(128))

-- Add any tables you wish to generate INSERT statements for here. The fields are as thus:
 -- Name: Your table name
 -- IdField: The field on which to filter the dataset
 -- IdInsert: If the primary key field is to be included in the INSERT statement
 -- Excluded: Any fields you do not wish to include in the INSERT statement
INSERT INTO @tables (Name, IdField, IdInsert, Excluded) VALUES ('MyTable1', 'Id', 0, 'Created,Modified')
INSERT INTO @tables (Name, IdField, IdInsert, Excluded) VALUES ('MyTable2', 'Id', 1, 'Created,Modified')

DECLARE @numberTypes TABLE (sysId TINYINT)

-- This will ensure INT and BIT types are not surrounded with quotes in the
-- resultant INSERT statement, but you may need to add more (from sys.types)
INSERT @numberTypes(SysId) VALUES(56),(104)

DECLARE @rows INT = (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM @tables)
DECLARE @cnt INT = 1

DECLARE @results TABLE (Sql NVARCHAR(4000))

WHILE @cnt <= @rows
BEGIN
    DECLARE @tablename AS NVARCHAR(128)
    DECLARE @idField AS NVARCHAR(128)
    DECLARE @idInsert AS BIT
    DECLARE @excluded AS NVARCHAR(128)
    SELECT
        @tablename = Name,
        @idField = IdField,
        @idInsert = IdInsert,
        @excluded = Excluded
    FROM (SELECT *, ROW_NUMBER() OVER(ORDER BY (SELECT 1)) AS RowId FROM @tables) t WHERE t.RowId = @cnt

    DECLARE @excludedFields TABLE (FieldName NVARCHAR(128))
    DECLARE @xml AS XML = CAST(('<X>' + REPLACE(@excluded, ',', '</X><X>') + '</X>') AS XML)
    INSERT INTO @excludedFields SELECT N.value('.', 'NVARCHAR(128)') FROM @xml.nodes('X') AS T(N)

    DECLARE @setIdentity NVARCHAR(128) = 'SET IDENTITY_INSERT ' + @tablename

    DECLARE @execsql AS NVARCHAR(4000) = 'SELECT ''' + CASE WHEN @idInsert = 1 THEN @setIdentity + ' ON' + CHAR(13) ELSE '' END + 'INSERT INTO ' + @tablename + ' ('
    SELECT @execsql = @execsql +
    STUFF
    (
        (
            SELECT CASE WHEN NOT EXISTS(SELECT * FROM @excludedFields WHERE FieldName = name) THEN ', ' + name ELSE '' END
            FROM sys.columns
            WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID('dbo.' + @tablename)
            FOR XML PATH('')
        ), 1, 2, ''
    ) +
    ')' + CHAR(13) + 'VALUES (' +
    STUFF
    (
        (
            SELECT
                CASE WHEN NOT EXISTS(SELECT * FROM @excludedFields WHERE FieldName = name) THEN
                    ''', '' + ISNULL(' +
                    CASE WHEN EXISTS(SELECT * FROM @numberTypes WHERE SysId = system_type_id) THEN '' ELSE ''''''''' + ' END +
                    'CAST(' + name + ' AS VARCHAR)' +
                    CASE WHEN EXISTS(SELECT * FROM @numberTypes WHERE SysId = system_type_id) THEN '' ELSE ' + ''''''''' END +
                    ', ''NULL'') + '
                ELSE ''
                END
            FROM sys.columns
            WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID('dbo.' + @tablename)
            FOR XML PATH('')
        ), 1, 3, ''
    ) +
    ''')' + CASE WHEN @idInsert = 1 THEN CHAR(13) + @setIdentity + ' OFF' ELSE '' END +
    ''' FROM ' + @tablename + ' WHERE ' + @idField + ' = ' + CAST(@id AS VARCHAR)

    INSERT @results EXEC (@execsql)
    DELETE @excludedFields
    SET @cnt = @cnt + 1
END

DECLARE cur CURSOR FOR SELECT Sql FROM @results
OPEN cur

DECLARE @sql NVARCHAR(4000)
FETCH NEXT FROM cur INTO @sql
WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
BEGIN
    PRINT @sql
    FETCH NEXT FROM cur INTO @sql
END

CLOSE cur
DEALLOCATE cur

Answer 10

I created the following procedure:

if object_id('tool.create_insert', 'P') is null
begin
  exec('create procedure tool.create_insert as');
end;
go

alter procedure tool.create_insert(@schema    varchar(200) = 'dbo',
                                   @table     varchar(200),
                                   @where     varchar(max) = null,
                                   @top       int = null,
                                   @insert    varchar(max) output)
as
begin
  declare @insert_fields varchar(max),
          @select        varchar(max),
          @error         varchar(500),
          @query         varchar(max);

  declare @values table(description varchar(max));

  set nocount on;

  -- Get columns
  select @insert_fields = isnull(@insert_fields + ', ', '') + c.name,
         @select = case type_name(c.system_type_id)
                      when 'varchar' then isnull(@select + ' + '', '' + ', '') + ' isnull('''''''' + cast(' + c.name + ' as varchar) + '''''''', ''null'')'
                      when 'datetime' then isnull(@select + ' + '', '' + ', '') + ' isnull('''''''' + convert(varchar, ' + c.name + ', 121) + '''''''', ''null'')'
                      else isnull(@select + ' + '', '' + ', '') + 'isnull(cast(' + c.name + ' as varchar), ''null'')'
                    end
    from sys.columns c with(nolock)
         inner join sys.tables t with(nolock) on t.object_id = c.object_id
         inner join sys.schemas s with(nolock) on s.schema_id = t.schema_id
   where s.name = @schema
     and t.name = @table;

  -- If there's no columns...
  if @insert_fields is null or @select is null
  begin
    set @error = 'There''s no ' + @schema + '.' + @table + ' inside the target database.';
    raiserror(@error, 16, 1);
    return;
  end;

  set @insert_fields = 'insert into ' + @schema + '.' + @table + '(' + @insert_fields + ')';

  if isnull(@where, '') <> '' and charindex('where', ltrim(rtrim(@where))) < 1
  begin
    set @where = 'where ' + @where;
  end
  else
  begin
    set @where = '';
  end;

  set @query = 'select ' + isnull('top(' + cast(@top as varchar) + ')', '') + @select + ' from ' + @schema + '.' + @table + ' with (nolock) ' + @where;

  insert into @values(description)
  exec(@query);

  set @insert = isnull(@insert + char(10), '') + '--' + upper(@schema + '.' + @table);

  select @insert = @insert + char(10) + @insert_fields + char(10) + 'values(' + v.description + ');' + char(10) + 'go' + char(10)
    from @values v
   where isnull(v.description, '') <> '';
end;
go

Then you can use it that way:

declare @insert varchar(max),
        @part   varchar(max),
        @start  int,
        @end    int;

set @start = 1;

exec tool.create_insert @schema = 'dbo',
                        @table = 'customer',
                        @where  = 'id = 1',
                        @insert = @insert output;

-- Print one line to avoid the maximum 8000 characters problem
while len(@insert) > 0
begin
  set @end = charindex(char(10), @insert);

  if @end = 0
  begin
    set @end = len(@insert) + 1;
  end;

  print substring(@insert, @start, @end - 1);
  set @insert = substring(@insert, @end + 1, len(@insert) - @end + 1);
end;

The output would be something like that:

--DBO.CUSTOMER
insert into dbo.customer(id, name, type)
values(1, 'CUSTOMER NAME', 'F');
go

If you just want to get a range of rows, use the @top parameter as bellow:

declare @insert varchar(max),
        @part   varchar(max),
        @start  int,
        @end    int;

set @start = 1;

exec tool.create_insert @schema = 'dbo',
                        @table = 'customer',
                        @top    = 100,
                        @insert = @insert output;

-- Print one line to avoid the maximum 8000 characters problem
while len(@insert) > 0
begin
  set @end = charindex(char(10), @insert);

  if @end = 0
  begin
    set @end = len(@insert) + 1;
  end;

  print substring(@insert, @start, @end - 1);
  set @insert = substring(@insert, @end + 1, len(@insert) - @end + 1);
end;

Answer 11

You can Choose 'Result to File' option in SSMS and export your select result to file and make your changes in result file and finally using BCP - Bulk copy you can insert in table 1 in database 2.

I think for bulk insert you have to convert .rpt file to .csv file

Hope it will help.

Answer 12

I had a similar problem, but I needed to be able to create an INSERT statement from a query (with filters etc.)

So I created following procedure:

CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.ConvertQueryToInsert (@input NVARCHAR(max), @target NVARCHAR(max)) AS BEGIN

    DECLARE @fields NVARCHAR(max);
    DECLARE @select NVARCHAR(max);

    -- Get the defintion from sys.columns and assemble a string with the fields/transformations for the dynamic query
    SELECT
        @fields = COALESCE(@fields + ', ', '') + '[' + name +']', 
        @select = COALESCE(@select + ', ', '') + ''''''' + ISNULL(CAST([' + name + '] AS NVARCHAR(max)), ''NULL'')+'''''''
    FROM tempdb.sys.columns 
    WHERE [object_id] = OBJECT_ID(N'tempdb..'+@input);

    -- Run the a dynamic query with the fields from @select into a new temp table
    CREATE TABLE #ConvertQueryToInsertTemp (strings nvarchar(max))
    DECLARE @stmt NVARCHAR(max) = 'INSERT INTO #ConvertQueryToInsertTemp SELECT '''+ @select + ''' AS [strings] FROM '+@input
    exec sp_executesql @stmt

    -- Output the final insert statement 
    SELECT 'INSERT INTO ' + @target + ' (' + @fields + ') VALUES (' + REPLACE(strings, '''NULL''', 'NULL') +')' FROM #ConvertQueryToInsertTemp

    -- Clean up temp tables
    DROP TABLE #ConvertQueryToInsertTemp
    SET @stmt = 'DROP TABLE ' + @input
    exec sp_executesql @stmt
END

You can then use it by writing the output of your query into a temp table and running the procedure:

-- Example table
CREATE TABLE Dummy (Id INT, Comment NVARCHAR(50), TimeStamp DATETIME)
INSERT INTO Dummy VALUES (1 , 'Foo', GetDate()), (2, 'Bar', GetDate()), (3, 'Foo Bar', GetDate())

-- Run query and procedure
SELECT * INTO #TempTableForConvert FROM Dummy WHERE Id < 3
EXEC dbo.ConvertQueryToInsert '#TempTableForConvert', 'dbo.Dummy'

Note: This procedure only casts the values to a string which can cause the data to look a bit different. With DATETIME for example the seconds will be lost.

Answer 13

You can Use Sql Server Integration Service Packages specifically designed for Import and Export operation.

VS has a package for developing these packages if your fully install Sql Server.

Integration Services in Business Intelligence Development Studio

Answer 14

I think its also possible with adhoc queries you can export result to excel file and then import that file into your datatable object or use it as it is and then import the excel file into the second database have a look at this link this can help u alot.

http://vscontrols.blogspot.com/2010/09/import-and-export-excel-to-sql-server.html

Answer 15

If you are using Oracle (or configure the application to the SQL Server) then Oracle SQL Developer does this for you. choose 'unload' for a table and follow the options through (untick DDL if you don't want all the table create stuff).

Answer 16

I found this SMSMS Boost addon, which is free and does exactly this among other things. You can right click on the results and select Script data as.

Answer 17

You can use this Q2C.SSMSPlugin, which is free and open source. You can right click and select "Execute Query To Command... -> Query To Insert...". Enjoy)

Answer 18

You can use an INSERT INTO SELECT statement, to insert the results of a select query into a table. http://www.w3schools.com/sql/sql_insert_into_select.asp

Example:

INSERT INTO Customers (CustomerName, Country)
SELECT SupplierName, Country
FROM Suppliers
WHERE Country='Germany'