Limit CSV file to actual data length rather than field length

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Limit CSV file to actual data length rather than field length

jcobb 20350

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June 7, 2016 at 6:56 am

#317102

I have a nightly job that sends out a csv file to our supplier. They then upload the data from there. The problem is that the field length is 20 characters. The actual data may be up to 20 but most often is less, maybe from 10-15 characters. The remaining length is filled by spaces which wrecks their import.
I tried RTRIM but no luck. Is there a way to limit the query length to actual data length instead of getting blank fillers at the end?

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Lowell SSC Guru Points: 323482 More actions · Answer 1

how does whitespace wreck the import?

importing a csv is fairly straight forward;

you could bulk insert directly to a staging table, and trim the data before it inserts into the permanent table.

if you use SSIS, you could create derived columns that do the trimming for you, and then use those values ot insert into your destination

Lowell

--help us help you! If you post a question, make sure you include a CREATE TABLE... statement and INSERT INTO... statement into that table to give the volunteers here representative data. with your description of the problem, we can provide a tested, verifiable solution to your question! asking the question the right way gets you a tested answer the fastest way possible!

Phil Parkin SSC Guru Points: 245813 More actions · Answer 2

jcobb 20350 (6/7/2016)
I have a nightly job that sends out a csv file to our supplier. They then upload the data from there. The problem is that the field length is 20 characters. The actual data may be up to 20 but most often is less, maybe from 10-15 characters. The remaining length is filled by spaces which wrecks their import.
I tried RTRIM but no luck. Is there a way to limit the query length to actual data length instead of getting blank fillers at the end?

What method are you using to create the CSV file?

If you haven't even tried to resolve your issue, please don't expect the hard-working volunteers here to waste their time providing links to answers which you could easily have found yourself.

ZZartin SSC-Dedicated Points: 30758 More actions · Answer 3

Do you have the target set up as a fixed width file?

Lowell SSC Guru Points: 323482 More actions · Answer 4

ZZartin (6/7/2016)
Do you have the target set up as a fixed width file?

is the datatype of the source CHAR/NCHAR and not varchar/nvarchar?

exporting char values maintains their defined length.

you'd probably want to convert to varchar

Lowell

--help us help you! If you post a question, make sure you include a CREATE TABLE... statement and INSERT INTO... statement into that table to give the volunteers here representative data. with your description of the problem, we can provide a tested, verifiable solution to your question! asking the question the right way gets you a tested answer the fastest way possible!

jcobb 20350 Default port Points: 1435 More actions · Answer 5

DECLARE @tab char(1) = char(9)

EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_send_dbmail

@recipients='xxxx@xxxx.com'

@subject= 'Inventory',

@query= 'SET NOCOUNT On;

SELECT "Item" AS Item_id

, "Qty" AS qty_on_hand

, "Acct" AS acct

, "Date" AS date_entered;

SELECT RTRIM(j.item_id)

, j.qty_on_hand

, j.acct

, j.date_entered

FROM mydb.dbo.jec_report j

WHERE j.date_entered = CONVERT(varchar(10), GETDATE()-1, 110)',

@body = 'Stock Report attached.',

@attach_query_result_as_file = 1,

@query_attachment_filename= 'Inventory.csv',

@query_result_separator = @tab,

@query_result_header=0

Here is what I'm pulling and sending out.

jcobb 20350 Default port Points: 1435 More actions · Answer 6

Lowell (6/7/2016)
ZZartin (6/7/2016)
Do you have the target set up as a fixed width file?
is the datatype of the source CHAR/NCHAR and not varchar/nvarchar?
exporting char values maintains their defined length.
you'd probably want to convert to varchar

In the table I have, the field is varchar(20). Can it be cast as the data length somehow?

jcobb 20350 Default port Points: 1435 More actions · Answer 7

Turns out it's in the syntax. By adding this: @query_result_no_padding= 1,

to the job step, I have the results limited to just the data character count and no trailing spaces.