How to Export an MS SQL Server Database to a CSV File

Microsoft SQL Server is an enterprise-level database solution from Microsoft that is widely utilized by numerous companies globally. This application enables efficient relational management of databases. Occasionally, when working with a database, it becomes necessary to extract the SQL Server database in a text file format for import into other data analysis tools, with CSV being the most popular choice. On this page, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to directly export an MS SQL Server database to a CSV file using SQL Server Management Studio.

How to Export SQL Server Data to CSV using SQL Server Management Studio

1. Open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to the database.

2. Navigate to "Object Explorer," locate the server database you wish to export as CSV. Right-click on it and select "Tasks" > "Export Data" to export the table data in CSV format. This will initiate the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard welcome screen.

3. Next, click on the 'Data source' dropdown button and select the data source you wish to copy. In this case, choose "SQL Server Native Client 11.0". In the 'Server name' dropdown, select a SQL Server instance. In the 'Authentication' section, choose the authentication method for the data source connection. Then, from the 'Database' dropdown, select the database from which data will be copied. Once all settings are in place, click the "Next" button.

4. On the "Choose a Destination" window, in the Destination field, select "Flat File Destination" for copying data from SQL Server to CSV. In the File name box, specify a CSV file where the data from a SQL Server database will be exported, then click the "Next" button.

5. On the Specify Table Copy or Query screen, you can choose to export the SQL database into CSV format either by "Copying data from one or more tables or views" or "Writing a query to specify the data to transfer." Then, click Next to proceed.

6. Now, in the "Configure Flat File Destination" screen, you can choose the table for exporting from the "Source table or view" option. You can also modify the default settings for Row & Column delimiters. Click the "Preview" button to see which data will be exported to the CSV file. Click Next to proceed.

7. On the 'Save and Run Package' window, you don't need to modify any settings. Just click the 'Next' button to proceed.

8. On the "Complete" Wizard window, you can review all the settings configured during the export process. If everything is correct, click "Finish" to commence exporting the SQL database to CSV.

9. You can observe the exporting process at this stage. Once it's finished, click on the "Report" dropdown button.

10. You can select "Save Report to File..." (including Excel, Notepad) to save the report according to your needs. This report contains detailed information about the complete SQL database conversion to CSV format.

The conversion of SQL Server data to CSV can be accomplished using the Import and Export Wizard in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). However, if the primary database MDF file is corrupted, you will need to employ a professional MS SQL repair tool to resolve the issue initially before proceeding with the database export.