Resolving the Issue of NULL Data Conversion from Excel to SQL Server

Описание: Learn how to properly convert and upload data from Excel to SQL Server when faced with `NULL` values due to commas in single data points. Follow our step-by-step guide to ensure accurate data transfer!
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/76949184/ asked by the user 'la-di-da' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/16608640/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/76949474/ provided by the user 'la-di-da' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/16608640/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Single data point that contains commas in Excel worksheet gets converted to NULL in SQL Server

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Resolving the Issue of NULL Data Conversion from Excel to SQL Server

When working with data transfer between Excel and SQL Server, you might encounter a frustrating situation where certain data points get converted to NULL. This issue often arises due to the presence of commas in single data cells. In this guide, we'll explore a specific example of this problem and discuss effective solutions to ensure that your data transfers accurately without losing valuable information.

The Problem: Data Conversion to NULL

Scenario

Imagine you have an Excel worksheet that contains various data points formatted as follows:

ColorF2Red1,4,6BlueNULLGreen3,5OrangeNULLAfter attempting to upload this Excel table to SQL Server, you find that the rows containing commas (as in "1,4,6" and "3,5") have been converted to NULL. The resulting output looks like this:

ColorF2Red1BlueNULLGreen3OrangeNULLThis outcome is not only frustrating, but it also results in data loss and inaccuracies in your dataset. So, what can you do to solve this problem?

The Solution: Ensuring Proper Data Type Conversion

Step-by-Step Instructions

Convert Your Data to Text in Excel:

Before pasting your data into the Excel sheet, you need to ensure that the targeted column (where the problematic data will be pasted) is formatted as Text.

To do this, select the entire column, right-click, choose "Format Cells," and then select Text from the options.

Repaste the Data:

Once you have set the column to Text, paste your data. It’s crucial that you paste the data after formatting the column to Text; otherwise, it may still default to numeric values and result in NULL.

Alternative Method: Use Notepad:

If the above step does not work for some reason, copy your data from Excel, paste it into a text editor like Notepad or Notepad+ + , then copy the data again from Notepad.

After copying from Notepad, paste it back into Excel. This extra step forces Excel to treat the data as Text.

Avoid Using Paste Special as Values:

It is noted that using the "Paste Special" option to paste values would not yield the desired outcome. Always ensure the initial paste is handled correctly right from a plain text format.

Summary

If you follow these steps, you should observe that data with commas will no longer convert to NULL upon uploading to SQL Server. Instead, the data will retain its intended format and make it through the transfer process without loss.

Conclusion

Transferring data from Excel to SQL Server can often be straightforward, but data formatting issues such as conversion to NULL due to commas can trip even the most experienced users. By simply ensuring that your data is in the correct format before uploading, you can save yourself from a lot of headaches and lost information. Remember to format your columns as Text, repaste the data correctly, and utilize external text editors if needed. Happy data managing!