Presents your 
SQL SERVER E-NEWSLETTER for February 13, 2003

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ITEMS TO CONSIDER IN IMPROVING BULK INSERT LOADING PERFORMANCE

BULK INSERT is a T-SQL command that loads data from a flat file into
table(s) in SQL Server. Its predecessor is the bcp utility, which loads 
data into a database from flat files. BULK INSERT runs in process with the 
SQL Server engine rather than as a separate utility.

The following is a list of features that improve BULK INSERT's loading
performance when compared to that of bcp or DTS:


* It runs in process with the SQL Server engine, which bypasses any
network library calls that cause the reduced performance.

* BULK INSERT doesn't check foreign key constraints by default.

* It can issue a table lock hint reducing contention during load.

* It orders data in the source file according to the table's order.

* BULK INSERT doesn't fire triggers by default during operation.


Other BULK INSERT features include:


* It can use the bulk logged recovery mode, which requires little
transaction log space. Improvements have been made to accommodate bulk 
copy commands using little space in the transaction log.

* BULK INSERT is executed within a user-defined transaction that can be
rolled back.

* It provides the option to keep nulls when values are empty in the
source file.

* It will log the entire bulk load operation activity if you allow
triggers to be fired during bulk load. This gives you more freedom in 
choosing recovery modes.
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