Bulk create customers using SQL Server data

Bulk creates customers by reading data from an external SQL Server database using the SOURCE clause. The column names in the source query must match the input columns of the Customers table (e.g. FirstName, LastName, Email).

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(FirstName, LastName, Email, Phone)
SOURCE('MSSQL'
  ,'Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=tempdb;Integrated Security=true'
  ,'select ''John'' as FirstName, ''Doe'' as LastName, ''a.doe@gmail.com'' as Email, ''7705553111'' as Phone'
)

Using OPENQUERY in SQL Server

SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY([LS_TO_SHOPIFY_IN_GATEWAY], 'INSERT INTO Customers(FirstName, LastName, Email, Phone)
SOURCE(''MSSQL''
  ,''Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=tempdb;Integrated Security=true''
  ,''select ''''John'''' as FirstName, ''''Doe'''' as LastName, ''''a.doe@gmail.com'''' as Email, ''''7705553111'''' as Phone''
)')

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(FirstName, LastName, Email, Phone)
SOURCE(''MSSQL''
  ,''Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=tempdb;Integrated Security=true''
  ,''select ''''John'''' as FirstName, ''''Doe'''' as LastName, ''''a.doe@gmail.com'''' as Email, ''''7705553111'''' as Phone''
)'
EXEC (@MyQuery) AT [LS_TO_SHOPIFY_IN_GATEWAY]