Tackling Unicode/Collation Issues in SQL Server Openrowset for CSV Files

Discover how to resolve `Unicode/Collation issues` in SQL Server when using Openrowset to read CSV files. We'll dive into practical solutions and steps to ensure proper text handling.
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Resolving Unicode/Collation Issues in SQL Server Openrowset for CSV Files

Reading data from CSV files in SQL Server can sometimes lead to unexpected issues, especially concerning the representation of special characters. If you've encountered problems with Unicode text displaying incorrectly, you're not alone. In this guide, we will explore a common problem that arises when using Openrowset to import CSV files, particularly focusing on how to solve collation issues when working with non-ASCII characters.

The Problem

As an example, let’s consider a scenario where your CSV file contains characters such as Côté fenêtres and carré. Unexpectedly, when you attempt to import this CSV file using Openrowset, you might see results like C+¦t+¬ fen+¬tres instead of the correctly formatted text. This represents a common Unicode issue within SQL Server, particularly when it comes to handling character encoding.

Here is the SQL command you might be trying to run:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

While this should open your CSV file, it fails to read the non-ASCII characters correctly due to collation mismatches.

The Solution

To resolve this issue, you can utilize a couple of approaches to ensure that your SQL Server setup can correctly process the Unicode characters present in your CSV file. Here’s how you can effectively tackle the problem:

1. Specify the Code Page

One of the simplest fixes is to add the CODEPAGE argument to your Openrowset command. By specifying a code page such as 65001, which corresponds to UTF-8, you instruct SQL Server to interpret the characters correctly.

Here’s how you can modify your SQL command:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

2. Use SQLNCHAR Data Type

In addition to specifying the code page, it’s essential to examine your format file. If your CSV file is indeed encoded in Unicode (particularly UTF-16), you should change the data types in your format file from SQLCHAR to SQLNCHAR. The SQLNCHAR type is specifically designed for handling Unicode data.

Make sure your format file reflects this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By utilizing the CODEPAGE parameter and ensuring that your format file uses the correct data types, you can avoid hassle with Unicode text when importing CSV files in SQL Server. This will help maintain the integrity of your data and prevent characters from being misinterpreted.

If you find yourself facing similar issues, don't hesitate to implement these strategies—they can save you a significant amount of time and effort in managing your database imports. Keep these tips in mind as you work on your SQL Server projects, and you’ll be well-equipped to handle Unicode challenges!