How to insert bulk record into database using SQL Server,C# and XML

If we have list of records then we can not process each record to insert into database because it is time taking process and it will degrade the performance.In this case we can use bulk insert. Suppose if we have bulk record in xml then we can easily dump that xml record into database.

Check the below code sample to insert bulk record.

Suppose this is sample XML string -

XML Data String

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<Employees>
  <Emp>
    <EmpID>101</EmpID>
    <EmpName>Jitendra</EmpName>
    <Age>27</Age>
  </Emp>
  <Emp>
    <EmpID>102</EmpID>
    <EmpName>Ramesh</EmpName>
    <Age>30</Age>
  </Emp>
  <Emp>
    <EmpID>103</EmpID>
    <EmpName>Raj</EmpName>
    <Age>24</Age>
  </Emp>
 </Employees>
 
 Now check the below stored procedure –

Stored Procedure

This stored proceduer will take the XML string as input and it will process this XML to insert into table.

--Stored procedure to insert bulk record using XML

CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[SP_EmpBulkInsert]   
(    @XMLData text    )   
AS   
BEGIN   
 SET NOCOUNT ON   
 BEGIN TRANSACTION   
 Begin Try   

  DECLARE @XMLDocPointer INT   
  EXEC sp_xml_preparedocument @XMLDocPointer OUTPUT, @XMLData   

   INSERT INTO tab_Employees
   (EmpID, EmpName, Age)   
   SELECT EmpID,EmpName,Age  
   FROM OPENXML(@XMLDocPointer,'/Employees/Emp',2)   
   WITH  (EmpID INT,EmpName nvarchar(50),Age INT)    

   EXEC sp_xml_removedocument @XMLDocPointer   
   COMMIT TRANSACTION   
   Return 0;    
 End Try   
 Begin Catch   
   ROLLBACK TRANSACTION   
 End Catch   
END

In this stored procedure I am inserting data into tab_Employees table, based on column selection data will be inserted to this table. Now chek the below code to call this stored procedure from C# application.

C# Code-

//Code to insert bulk records
        private void btnBulkInsert_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                //Code to insert bulk record using XML
                string strConnectionString = "Your connection string";
                //Getting XML string
                string strXML = GetXMLString();
               
                //Connecting to database
                using (System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection conn = new System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection())
                {
                    conn.ConnectionString = Convert.ToString(strConnectionString);
                    System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand cmd = new System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand("SP_EmpBulkInsert", conn);
                    cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@XMLData", strXML);
                    cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
                    conn.Open();
                    cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
                    conn.Close();
                    MessageBox.Show("Records inserted successfully.");
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }
        }

         //XML string to insert bulk record
        private string GetXMLString()
        {
            return  @"<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<Employees>
  <Emp>
    <EmpID>101</EmpID>
    <EmpName>Jitendra</EmpName>
    <Age>27</Age>
  </Emp>
  <Emp>
    <EmpID>102</EmpID>
    <EmpName>Ramesh</EmpName>
    <Age>30</Age>
  </Emp>
  <Emp>
    <EmpID>103</EmpID>
    <EmpName>Raj</EmpName>
    <Age>24</Age>
  </Emp>
 </Employees>";
        }

In above code, I am getting XML string using GetXMLString() method. After getting the XML string I am passing this string as parameter for stored procedure. Finally when this code will be executed then you will find the new records in tab_Employees table.