Binaryworld - How to create Format File using BCP command ... [ SQL Server -> BCP ]

When you bulk import into a SQL Server table or bulk export data from a table, you can use a format file to store format information for each field in a data file relative to that table. A format file provides a flexible system for writing data files that requires little or no editing to comply with other data formats or to read data files from other software programs.

To create format file using bcp command Type the following line on comand Prompt

Click here to copy the following block

bcp Northwind.dbo.Products format nul -c -f "c:\Products.fmt" -T

It will create file something like this if you have SQL 2005 installed.

9.0
10
1       SQLINT        0       4       ""   1     ProductID                          ""
2       SQLCHAR       2       40      ""   2     ProductName                        SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS
3       SQLINT        1       4       ""   3     SupplierID                         ""
4       SQLINT        1       4       ""   4     CategoryID                         ""
5       SQLCHAR       2       20      ""   5     QuantityPerUnit                    SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS
6       SQLMONEY      1       8       ""   6     UnitPrice                          ""
7       SQLSMALLINT   1       2       ""   7     UnitsInStock                       ""
8       SQLSMALLINT   1       2       ""   8     UnitsOnOrder                       ""
9       SQLSMALLINT   1       2       ""   9     ReorderLevel                       ""
10      SQLBIT        1       1       ""   10    Discontinued

fore more info visit the following url

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191516.aspx