What is the best way to auto-generate INSERT statements for a SQL Server table?

Question

We are writing a new application, and while testing, we will need a bunch of dummy data. I\'ve added that data by using MS Access to dump excel files into the relevant table

Answer 1

Don't use inserts, use BCP

Answer 2

If you need a programmatic access, then you can use an open source stored procedure `GenerateInsert.

INSERT statement(s) generator

Just as a simple and quick example, to generate INSERT statements for a table AdventureWorks.Person.AddressType execute following statements:

USE [AdventureWorks];
GO
EXECUTE dbo.GenerateInsert @ObjectName = N'Person.AddressType';

This will generate the following script:

SET NOCOUNT ON
SET IDENTITY_INSERT Person.AddressType ON
INSERT INTO Person.AddressType
([AddressTypeID],[Name],[rowguid],[ModifiedDate])
VALUES
 (1,N'Billing','B84F78B1-4EFE-4A0E-8CB7-70E9F112F886',CONVERT(datetime,'2002-06-01 00:00:00.000',121))
,(2,N'Home','41BC2FF6-F0FC-475F-8EB9-CEC0805AA0F2',CONVERT(datetime,'2002-06-01 00:00:00.000',121))
,(3,N'Main Office','8EEEC28C-07A2-4FB9-AD0A-42D4A0BBC575',CONVERT(datetime,'2002-06-01 00:00:00.000',121))
,(4,N'Primary','24CB3088-4345-47C4-86C5-17B535133D1E',CONVERT(datetime,'2002-06-01 00:00:00.000',121))
,(5,N'Shipping','B29DA3F8-19A3-47DA-9DAA-15C84F4A83A5',CONVERT(datetime,'2002-06-01 00:00:00.000',121))
,(6,N'Archive','A67F238A-5BA2-444B-966C-0467ED9C427F',CONVERT(datetime,'2002-06-01 00:00:00.000',121))
SET IDENTITY_INSERT Person.AddressType OFF

Answer 3

I use sqlite to do this. I find it very, very useful for creating scratch/test databases.

sqlite3 foo.sqlite .dump > foo_as_a_bunch_of_inserts.sql

Answer 4

I used this script which I have put on my blog (How-to generate Insert statement procedures on sql server).

So far has worked for me, although they might be bugs I have not discovered yet .

Answer 5

I'm using SSMS 2008 version 10.0.5500.0. In this version as part of the Generate Scripts wizard, instead of an Advanced button, there is the screen below. In this case, I wanted just the data inserted and no create statements, so I had to change the two circled properties