file import to SQL Server 2000 -- sql server (alternate)

Bethany Holliday
11/4/2004 6:16:49 PM

Hi all,

I have a file with an extension of .sdf. I "believe" it is a text file
of some sort but I am uncertain. The source agency hasn't returned any
of my calls so I'm wondering if anyone is familiar with this extension?
I'd like to import the file into my database - when I use DTS and chose
a text format, regardless of what delimiter I choose, the format is
still really ugly. when I pull it up in a huge text editor, it is hard
for me to tell what it is there.

I saw in one of my searches that it could be a comma delimited (it's
not) .. could be a unisys file? I know it's not much information to go
on - but where should I start in trying to get this into my database
without knowing the format? Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks!
Bethany

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Dan Guzman
11/5/2004 1:38:09 PM

A google search turned up

SDF = Windows SQL CE-version internal databases
SDF = MDL Isis SDF chemical modeller input file
SDF = Mime: application/e-score
SDF = Mime: chemical/x-mdl-sdf
SDF = Source Definition File (Sourcer)
SDF = System Data Format file (fixed lenght ascii text)

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All you can do is make assumptions and try to identify the file format via
trial-and-error. You might get help with identifying/eliminating SQL CE
from the microsoft.public.sqlserver.ce.

Once you've positively identified the file format, you can take steps to
either import directly or at least transform data into an intermediate
format suitable for import.

--
Hope this helps.

Dan Guzman
SQL Server MVP

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sql server (alternate) : file import to SQL Server 2000