How can I insert each element in a 1D array into a new row in an SQL Database using C#?

Question

I have an array containing a list of file paths that I want to insert into an SQL database.

string[] filePaths = Directory.GetFiles(@"C:\Test Folder");

I am confident in setting up and connecting to the database, I just can't figure out how to take each element and place it in a new row in the database.

Thanks, Matt

Answer 1

foreach(string fp in filePaths)
{
   InsertIntoDb(fp);
}

//Method
public void InsertIntoDb(string insert)
{
   SqlConnection con = //Setup DB connection
   SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand();
   command.Connection = con;
   command.CommandText = "Insert @insert into Table";
   command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@insert", insert);
   command.ExecuteNonQuery();
}

This leaves out a lot, but it should point you in the right direction. Essentially, you want to set up your connection, instantiate a SqlCommand object where the command text is the SQL Text to insert your value (Better would be a stored procedure or some other sanitized way to insert the data to avoid Sql Injection), and then call ExecuteNonQuery() to insert the actual data.

Answer 2

It depends on which technology you are using ( Please note that when inserting lots of rows the use of SqlBulkCopy is recommended ).

ADO.NET

foreach (var path in filePaths)
{
   var command = new SqlCommand("INSERT INTO mytable(col1) VALUES(@param1)", connection);
   command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@param1", path);
   command.ExecuteNonQuery();
}

LINQ-to-SQL

var projection = filePaths.Select(a => new MyTable() { Col1 = a });
myContext.InsertAllOnSubmit(projection);
myContext.SubmitChanges();

LINQ-to-Entities

foreach (var path in filePaths)
{
   myModel.MyTable.AddObject(new MyTable() { Col1 = path });
}
myModel.SaveChanges();

Answer 3

The most efficient way is to use SqlBulkCopy

you will have to project your data into a DataTable, DataRow[], etc. OR IDataReader (which is more efficient - refer this discussion and example) in order to use SqlBulkCopy