Using SQLBulkCopy to Insert/Update database

Question

I have a datatable with the records.I\'m inserting records into Sql table using SqlBulkCopy.It works fine.Next time when get the datatable with same records with few changed

Answer 1

Truncate the table and perform Bulkcopy.

Answer 2

Like mentioned by AdaTheDev, SqlBulkCopy can only insert however there is an alternative library which allow to perform Upsert operations.

Disclaimer: I'm the owner of the project Bulk Operations

The Bulk Operations library has a method "BulkMerge" which Insert or Update rows based on the specified key.

var bulk = new BulkOperation(connection);

bulk.ColumnMappings.Add("ID", true);
bulk.ColumnMappings.Add("Column1");
bulk.ColumnMappings.Add("Column2");
bulk.ColumnMappings.Add("Column3");

bulk.BulkMerge(dt);

Answer 3

Avoid Truncate table and Create a new temporary table, which BTW consume more space and memory.

I created a Trigger with INSTEAD OF INSERT and use inside MERGE statement.

But don't forget add the parameter SqlBulkCopyOptions.FireTriggers in the SqlBulkCopy.

This is my two cents.

Answer 4

SqlBulkCopy is only used for inserting records, not updating them as explained here. You'd need to use a different technique to do bulk updates.

e.g. you could SqlBulkCopy into a staging table, then run some SQL to update from there to the main table.