Bulk create customers using raw JSON body from SQL Server

Bulk creates customers by reading raw JSON bodies from an external SQL Server database. The source query should return a column named _rawdoc_ containing the JSON for each customer.

Standard SQL query example

This is the base query accepted by the connector. To execute it in SQL Server, you have to pass it to the Data Gateway via a Linked Server. See how to accomplish this using the examples below.

INSERT INTO Customers
SOURCE('MSSQL'
	,'Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=tempdb;Integrated Security=true'
	,'select ''{"customer":{"first_name":"Cust1","last_name":"Doe1","email":"a.doe@gmail.com","phone":"7705553111"}}'' as _rawdoc_
	 UNION 
	 select ''{"customer":{"first_name":"Cust2","last_name":"Doe2","email":"b.doe@gmail.com","phone":"7705553222"}}'' as _rawdoc_
	 '
	)

Using OPENQUERY in SQL Server

SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY([LS_TO_SHOPIFY_IN_GATEWAY], 'INSERT INTO Customers
SOURCE(''MSSQL''
	,''Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=tempdb;Integrated Security=true''
	,''select ''''{"customer":{"first_name":"Cust1","last_name":"Doe1","email":"a.doe@gmail.com","phone":"7705553111"}}'''' as _rawdoc_
	 UNION 
	 select ''''{"customer":{"first_name":"Cust2","last_name":"Doe2","email":"b.doe@gmail.com","phone":"7705553222"}}'''' as _rawdoc_
	 ''
	)')

Using EXEC in SQL Server (handling larger SQL text)

The major drawback of OPENQUERY is its inability to incorporate variables within SQL statements. This often leads to the use of cumbersome dynamic SQL (with numerous ticks and escape characters).

Fortunately, starting with SQL 2005 and onwards, you can utilize the EXEC (your_sql) AT [LS_TO_SHOPIFY_IN_GATEWAY] syntax.

DECLARE @MyQuery NVARCHAR(MAX) = 'INSERT INTO Customers
SOURCE(''MSSQL''
	,''Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=tempdb;Integrated Security=true''
	,''select ''''{"customer":{"first_name":"Cust1","last_name":"Doe1","email":"a.doe@gmail.com","phone":"7705553111"}}'''' as _rawdoc_
	 UNION 
	 select ''''{"customer":{"first_name":"Cust2","last_name":"Doe2","email":"b.doe@gmail.com","phone":"7705553222"}}'''' as _rawdoc_
	 ''
	)'
EXEC (@MyQuery) AT [LS_TO_SHOPIFY_IN_GATEWAY]