Sql-server – How to import a varbinary(max) column with bulk import

bcpcsql server

I have a varbinary(max) column that I need to bulk import. The data I'm putting into this column is a byte[] in C#. How do I format the data in the comma-delimited file used for bulk import? In other words, how do I convert from a byte[] to a string in a way the bcp utility will accept?

Best Answer

A varbinary value is of the form 0x01020304 for SQL Server to read.

So your CSV would be

col1,col2,varbinary
foo,1,0x01020304
bar,2,0x988776655443

Edit May 2013,

After testing, I can't get this to work with BULK INSERT with or without a format file.

I will post something more when I get it working. I can't delete this answer

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