Question

I have a 270k-row database with primary key mid and a column called value, and I have a text file with mid’s and values. Now I would like to update the table such that each value is assigned to the correct mid.

My current approach is reading the text file from C#, and updating a row in the table for each line that I read. There must be quicker way to do things I feel.. any ideas?

EDIT: There are other columns in the table, so I really need a method to update according to mid.

Answer 1

You could use the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms141209.aspx

Alternatively you could use the BULK TSQL Statement:

BULK
INSERT YourTable
FROM 'c:\YourTextFile.txt'
WITH
(
FIELDTERMINATOR = ',',
ROWTERMINATOR = '\n'
)
GO


SELECT * FROM YourTable
GO

Assuming you are splitting on a comma delimiter. If you are using another character such as a space, change the FIELDTERMINATOR to the associated character.

Edit (To achieve the update from my comment):

UPDATE RealTable
SET value = tt.value
FROM
  RealTable r
INNER JOIN temp_table tt ON r.mid = tt.mid