How to Resolve: Bulk load data conversion error (type mismatch or invalid character for the specified codepage)…

This post helps you how to resolve the BULK INSERT-related error in SQL Server: Bulk load data conversion error (type mismatch or invalid character for the specified codepage) for row… , column … 

 

Reproducing the issue with an example

Consider an example where you have a text file which you want to import in SQL Server using BULK INSERT:

 

Then, let’s say you created the corresponding table in order to import the data:

CREATE TABLE SampleDB.dbo.TestTable
(
id int,
code varchar(50),
descr varchar(50)
);
GO

 

Next, you run the below T-SQL statement in order to import the data in the above table:

BULK INSERT SampleDB.dbo.TestTable
   FROM 'c:\pathToFile.txt'  
   WITH   
      (  
         FIELDTERMINATOR =',',  
         ROWTERMINATOR ='\n'  
      );
GO

 

Right after you run the above T-SQL script, you get the below error message:

Msg 4864, Level 16, State 1, Line 9
Bulk load data conversion error (type mismatch or invalid character for the specified codepage) for row 1, column 1 (id).

 

The answer can be obvious, but also you might need some time to figure it out. The issue in the above example is that you are trying to import the column headers as data!

 

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How to resolve the issue

The issue can be easily resolved by including the “FIRSTROW=2” option in your T-SQL code:

BULK INSERT SampleDB.dbo.TestTable
   FROM 'c:\pathToFile.txt'  
   WITH   
      (  FIRSTROW = 2,
         FIELDTERMINATOR =',',  
         ROWTERMINATOR ='\n'  
      );
GO

 

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