Getting bcp.exe to escape terminators

Question

I need to export some data using SQL Server 2000\'s BCP utility. Sometimes my data contains characters, such as \\t and \\n, that I need to use as column and row terminator

Answer 1

Totally agree with you: escaping should be an option. "You can't have data with tabs or newlines" is the silliest thing I have ever heard.

Here is a possible solution:

1. use the -r option to set a different line terminator. Something
   unlikely to be present in your data (#!#$#%#). I think you can use multiple
   characters, so that makes it easier.
2. Open your data file in sed, a capable text editor, or write a script - and replace any \n and \t character with their escaped equivalents (\\n and \\t). Finally replace your line terminator with \n and you should be good.
3. I think the same thing should apply to using -t for field terminators

Take a look at this article for more information.