Writing select result to a csv file

Question

We need to write the SELECT query results to a csv file. How can it be done using T-SQL in SQL Server 2008 r2? I know that it can be done in SSIS, but for some reasons, we don't have this option.

I tried to use the suggested proc in the article below, but when I run the proc, SQL complains that can't run sys.sp_OACreate and sys.sp_OADestroy which are called in this proc.

Do you know how we can turn on these components or know any better way to write to a file using T-SQL?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Use BCP utility

bcp "SELECT Col1,Col2,Col3 FROM MyDatabase.dbo.MyTable" queryout "D:\MyTable.csv" -c -t , -S SERVERNAME -T

This doesn't export column headers by default. You need to use a UNION ALL for headers

OR

Use SQLCMD

SQLCMD -S SERVERNAME -E -Q "SELECT Col1,Col2,Col3 FROM MyDatabase.dbo.MyTable"
-s "," -o "D:\MyData.csv" 

OR

Use Powershell

Here is a link to an article. If you end up using this, you might want to append -notype after Export-Csv $extractFile to get rid of the unnecessary column on the output file.

Answer 2

Adding to the previous answer, which helps you automate the action, if you need it only from time to time you can do it in Management Studio, simply right click on the header - Save results as -> choose a .csv file.

Or if you want to do that for each select statement that you run, you can change the output direction of the results to a file. Use Tools -> Options -> Query Results - Results to file.

Another way, that can be automated easily, and makes use of SSIS, is by using Management Studio's Export Data feature. Right click on the database -> Tasks -> Export data. There is a wizard with lots of options there. You should choose the source database, the destination and other options. For the destination make sure it's "Flat file", browse and choose .csv type, choose whatever formatting you need and at the end you'll obtain an SSIS package that can be saved locally and repeated on need.