BULK INSERT with inconsistent number of columns

Question

I am trying to load a large amount data in SQL server from a flat file using BULK INSERT. However, my file has varying number of columns, for instance the first row contains

Answer 1

Try specifying a ROW terminator along with your field terminator.

BULK INSERT #t 
FROM '' 
WITH  
( 
  DATAFILETYPE = 'char', 
  KEEPNULLS, 
  FIELDTERMINATOR = '#',
  ROWTERMINATOR = '\n' --Or whatever signifies the end of a row in your flatfile.
) 

More info on this can be found here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191485.aspx