Format files are used to store formatting information needed for bulk importing or exporting data between tables or databases. There are two types of format files - XML and non-XML. XML format files use a structured XML format to define field and column mappings and data types. Non-XML format files store mappings in a proprietary binary format. Format files are required when the source data file schema does not match the target table schema, such as when column order or number of fields differ. They ensure data is mapped correctly during bulk operations.

1. Jason

2. Fomat File
 When you bulk import data into a table or
bulk export data from a table, you can use
a format file to store all the format
information that is required to bulk export or
bulk import data.

3. When Is a Format File
Required?
 The same data file is used as a source for
multiple tables that have different schemas.
 The column order is different for the data file
and table.
 The data file has a different number of fields
that the target table has columns

4. Process
Source
DB
Format
File
TempData
.dat
TempD
ata.dat
Format
File
Target
DB

5. Types of format files
Supports two types of format files:
 XML formats
 non-XML format

6. Create Fomat File
 Non-Xml
bcp table_or_view format nul - f
format_file_name
 Xml
bcp table_or_view format nul - f
format_file_name -x

7. Non-XML format files

8. XML format files
<BCPFORMAT ...>
<RECORD>
<FIELD ID = "fieldID" xsi:type = "fieldType" [...]
/>
</RECORD>
<ROW>
<COLUMN SOURCE = "fieldID" NAME = "columnName" xsi:type =
"columnType" [...]
/>
</ROW>
</BCPFORMAT>

9. XML format <FIELD>
<FIELD
ID ="fieldID"
xsi:type ="fieldType"
[ LENGTH ="n" ]
[ PREFIX_LENGTH ="p" ]
[ MAX_LENGTH ="m" ]
[ COLLATION ="collationName" ]
[ TERMINATOR ="terminator" ]
/>

10. XML format <COLUMN>
<COLUMN
SOURCE = "fieldID"
NAME = "columnName"
xsi:type = "columnType"
[ LENGTH = "n" ]
[ PRECISION = "n" ]
[ SCALE = "value" ]
[ NULLABLE = { "YES“ ,"NO" } ]
/>

11. Xsi:type values of the
<FIELD>
<FIELD> xsi:type values
Required XML Attribute(s)
for Data Type
Optional XML Attribute(s)
for Data Type
NativeFixed LENGTH None.
NativePrefix PREFIX_LENGTH MAX_LENGTH
CharFixed LENGTH COLLATION
NCharFixed LENGTH COLLATION
CharPrefix PREFIX_LENGTH MAX_LENGTH, COLLATION
NCharPrefix PREFIX_LENGTH MAX_LENGTH, COLLATION
CharTerm TERMINATOR MAX_LENGTH, COLLATION
NCharTerm TERMINATOR MAX_LENGTH, COLLATION

12. Xsi:type values of the
<COLUMN>
Type Category <COLUMN> Data Types
Required XML Attribute(s)
for Data Type
Optional XML Attribute(s)
for Data Type
Fixed SQLBIT, SQLTINYINT, SQLSMAL
LINT, SQLINT, SQLBIGINT, SQLF
LT4, SQLFLT8, SQLDATETIME, S
QLDATETIM4,SQLDATETIM8, SQ
LMONEY, SQLMONEY4, SQLVAR
IANT, and SQLUNIQUEID
None. NULLABLE
Variable Number SQLDECIMAL and SQLNUMERIC None. NULLABLE, PRECISION,
SCALE
LOB SQLIMAGE, CharLOB, SQLTEXT,
and SQLUDT
None. NULLABLE
Character LOB SQLNTEXT None. NULLABLE
Binary string SQLBINARY and SQLVARYBIN None. NULLABLE, LENGTH
Character string SQLCHAR, SQLVARYCHAR, SQL
NCHAR, and SQLNVARCHAR
None. NULLABLE, LENGTH

13. Reference
 Non-XML Format Files
 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191479.aspx
 XML Format Files
 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187833.aspx
 Create a Format File
 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191516.aspx