Know How to Convert SQL Database to CSV File Format – Best Solution Here

Published By Ashwani Tiwari

Approved By Aswin Vijayan

Published On February 17th, 2022

Reading Time 5 Minutes Reading

Category sql server, Tips

How to export data from SQL database to CSV file is one of the most emerging queries nowadays. However, this is a challenging task for some users, who are not familiar with the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Nevertheless, the conversion task will not be more difficult from now onwards as in the upcoming segment of this post, we will going to explain the best possible approaches to convert SQL database to CSV file efficiently. Before jumping on to the solution part let’s see a user query for the same.

Hello everyone, I am currently using Microsoft SQL Server 2012 for storing and accessing all my business data. Now, I want to export some tables to CSV file, I tried to export data using Generate Script Wizard. Unfortunately, I was unable to do so. Can anyone suggest a simple and effective way for this conversion? Grateful for any advice. Thank you!

If you come across a similar problem as stated above. And want a reliable way to convert SQL database to CSV, then do not fret. Here, we’ll show you how to convert SQL database to CSV using two easy and effective ways without a hitch.

So with any ado, let’s begin!

Know-How to Export Data From SQL Database to CSV File

There are 2 methods that you can use to convert SQL database to CSV. These solutions are:

1. Manual Method
2. Professional Solution

The first method tells how you can convert SQL database to CSV file using the Import and Export Wizard of SQL Server. It works pretty well but it also has some limitations integrated with it. And the second solution overcomes all the drawbacks of the manual procedure.

Let’s find out how both the measures work in the coming segment.

Using SQL Server Management Studio

To export data using the import and export wizard, follow the instruction given below.

1. Run SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) on your local system and connect to the database.
2. Now, search for the database you want to export into CSV under the Object Explorer section.
3.  And Right-click on it. After this go to the Tasks and then Export Data option from the context menu.
4. Next, in the Import/Export wizard, select Server Name and authentication mode. And then select the database that you want to convert into CSV and hit the Next button to proceed.
5. Choose the Flat File Destination option under Choose a Destination screen, and click on Next.
6. In the specify table copy or query page choose either Copy data from one or more tables or views or Write a query to specify the data to transfer and then click on the Next button.
7.   Select the tables from the Source table or view option.
8. Now, select the Run immediately options from the screen and click on the Next button.
9. In the Complete Wizard screen, preview the entire summary and finally click on Finish.

Before getting your hands on this method, must check the database is in a healthy state or not. If the database you want to export is damaged/corrupt, then the above-mentioned steps do not work for you. In such cases, it is suggested to use a professional solution to convert the data easily.

Also Read: How to Keep Your SQL Server database Healthy?

Convert SQL Database to CSV File Professionally

Use SQL repair tool to recover the corrupt SQL Server data in a minimum possible time. Not even this, the tool is also able to recover deleted data from database MDF & NDF files. The tool ensures you provide accurate and complete results within a few simple clicks. Once the data is recovered, you can easily export either complete or selective data to live SQL Server, CSV file, or as SQL Scripts. One can run the tool on any Windows version including the latest one. And it is compatible with SQL Server database 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, and all its below versions.

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Let see the working of the tool:

You just need to follow the given steps given below to export table data to CSV in SQL server:

Step 1: Run the application on your computer system. Then, Click on Open button to browse the database MDF file from which you want to export data.

Step 2: Choose a scan mode and SQL Server version of the MDF file.

Step 3: Once the scanning is done, preview the complete data on the software interface and from the top of the screen click on the Export button to convert SQL database to CSV file.

Step 4: On the next screen, the tool provides you different export options to save data, choose the CSV file format option.

Step 5: Mark the box for the required database tables you want to export and then choose export table either with schema or with schema + data, at last data hit the Save button.

Users can read another post to know how to recover MS SQL database from Suspect Mode.

Concluding Words

We explained the manual as well automated solution to convert SQL database to CSV file. Besides that, we have also discussed that the manual method does not in case of database corruption. Hence, to overcome the issues, it is recommended to use the SQL Recovery tool to recover and convert SQL database to CSV smoothly.