Updating an existing SQL table with values from an excel spreadsheet

[DellHater]

Hi All

I'm using SQL 2008, I need to update some existing values in a table and am trying to find a way to do it.
I have exported the table using the wizard to an excel spreadsheet.

On other tables I updated the excel sheet, deleted the existing table in SQl and then re-imported the excel into a new table . all worked ok.

Problem I got now is that I can't delete the original table, or rename it due to dependencies.
So i need a way to update the values in the table (replace existing text) using SQL and get my new values from the excel sheet.

Anyone got a way to do this ?

cheers

 

[gmmastros]

Have you got a column in the data that uniquely identifies a row of data? If so, I would recommend that you import to a temporary holding table and then use it to update the real table. The query would look something like this:

Update YourRealTable
Set    YourRealTable.EyeColor = HoldingTable.EyeColor,
       YourRealTable.ShowSize = HoldingTable.ShowSize
From   YourRealTable
       Inner Join HoldingTable
         On YourRealTable.UniqueRowIdentifier = HoldingTable.UniqueRowIdentifier

-George
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
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[simian336]

You might want to show a data example and what you want to accomplish. Also how many records are we talking about.

You might be able to create dynamic update statements in excel then just run a script to do the updates.

Simi