sql-serversql-server-2008

Error converting data types when importing from Excel to SQL Server 2008


Every time that I try to import an Excel file into SQL Server I'm getting a particular error. When I try to edit the mappings the default value for all numerical fields is float. None of the fields in my table have decimals in them and they aren't a money data type. They're only 8 digit numbers. However, since I don't want my primary key stored as a float when it's an int, how can I fix this? It gives me a truncation error of some sort, I'll post a screen cap if needed. Is this a common problem?

It should be noted that I cannot import Excel 2007 files (I think I've found the remedy to this), but even when I try to import .xls files every value that contains numerals is automatically imported as a float and when I try to change it I get an error.

https://i.sstatic.net/UzCE1.jpg


Solution

  • SSIS doesn't implicitly convert data types, so you need to do it explicitly. The Excel connection manager can only handle a few data types and it tries to make a best guess based on the first few rows of the file. This is fully documented in the SSIS documentation.

    You have several options:

    You might also want to note the comments in the Import Wizard documentation about data type mappings.