Question

I need to export data from several tables in SQL Server 2008 using SSMS. I do not want to use the native Export Data Wizard; I want to use a query instead. This means I cannot use sqlcmd or bcp.

How can I export data out of SQL Server 2008 using a query?

I need it to be comma delimited and double quoted as a text qualifier.

Thanks so much for any guidance/help.

Answer 1

You could run xp_cmdshell to run a bcp operation:

use [master];

declare @sql nvarchar(4000)
select @sql = 'bcp "select * from sys.columns" queryout c:\file.csv -c -t, -T -S'+ @@servername
exec xp_cmdshell @sql

You’d, of course, have to figure out how to format your qualifiers (probably through a format file)

EDIT:

Your source query would need to be something along the lines of:

SELECT IntValue + '"' + CharValue + '"' FROM TABLE

Also, you may need to have this feature enabled

EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1;
RECONFIGURE;
GO
EXEC sp_configure 'xp_cmdshell', 1;
RECONFIGURE;
GO