How to BULK INSERT a file into a *temporary* table where the filename is a variable?

Question

I have some code like this that I use to do a BULK INSERT of a data file into a table, where the data file and table name are variables:

DECLARE @sql AS NVAR         


        

Answer 1

You could always construct the #temp table in dynamic SQL. For example, right now I guess you have been trying:

CREATE TABLE #tmp(a INT, b INT, c INT);

DECLARE @sql NVARCHAR(1000);

SET @sql = N'BULK INSERT #tmp ...' + @variables;

EXEC master.sys.sp_executesql @sql;

SELECT * FROM #tmp;

This makes it tougher to maintain (readability) but gets by the scoping issue:

DECLARE @sql NVARCHAR(MAX);

SET @sql = N'CREATE TABLE #tmp(a INT, b INT, c INT);

BULK INSERT #tmp ...' + @variables + ';

SELECT * FROM #tmp;';

EXEC master.sys.sp_executesql @sql;

EDIT 2011-01-12

In light of how my almost 2-year old answer was suddenly deemed incomplete and unacceptable, by someone whose answer was also incomplete, how about:

CREATE TABLE #outer(a INT, b INT, c INT);

DECLARE @sql NVARCHAR(MAX);

SET @sql = N'SET NOCOUNT ON; 

CREATE TABLE #inner(a INT, b INT, c INT);

BULK INSERT #inner ...' + @variables + ';

SELECT * FROM #inner;';

INSERT #outer EXEC master.sys.sp_executesql @sql;