Copy Text or Image into or out of SQL Server

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.

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

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'

» See All Articles by Columnist Alexander Chigrik

Alexander Chigrik
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.

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