Using bcp to Transfer Data to and from Adaptive Server

This chapter explains how to use the bulk copy utility, bcp, to move data between Adaptive Server and an operating system file.

bcp provides a convenient, high-speed method for transferring data between a database table or view and an operating system file. bcp can read or write files in a wide variety of formats. When copying in from a file, bcp inserts data into an existing database table; when copying out to a file, bcp overwrites any previous contents of the file.

For a detailed description of bcp syntax, see bcp.

Methods for moving data

Importing and exporting data with bcp

bcp requirements

bcp modes

bcp performance

Using fast or slow bcp

Copying in data with fast bcp

Bulk copying data into partitioned tables

Using parallel bulk copy to copy data into a specific partition

Using the bcp options

Using the default formats

Changing terminators from the command line

Changing the defaults: interactive bcp

Responding to bcp prompts

File storage type

Prefix length

Field length

Field and row terminators

Using format files

Elements of the bcp format file

Examples: copying out data interactively

Copying out data with field lengths

Copying out data with delimiters

Examples: copying in data interactively

Copying in data with field lengths

Copying in data with delimiters

Copying in data with a format file

Using bcp with alternate languages

Copy in and batch files

Improving recoverability

Batches and partitioned tables

Copy out and text and image data

Specifying a network packet size

Copy in and error files

Copy out and error files

Data integrity: defaults, rules, and triggers

Defaults and datatypes

Rules and triggers

How bcp differs from other utilities


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