Inserting SQL Server data into Salesforce with a cursor

This blog provides an example of transferring data from a local SQL Server table to Salesforce. We are using the Salesforce ODBC driver to insert three records into the Salesforce Product2 table.

1. Configure a linked server that connects to Salesforce.
2. In SQL Server Management Studio, change the Linked Server > Linked Server Properties > Server Options > RPC Out setting to True.
3. Create this table in SQL Server:

   create table NewProducts ( "Name" nvarchar(30), ProductCode nvarchar(10), Description nvarchar(max))
   insert into NewProducts values ( 'Test1', 'TEST01', 'Test 1st description')
   insert into NewProducts values ( 'Test2', 'TEST02', '2nd description' )
   insert into NewProducts values ( 'Test3', 'TEST03', '3rd Test description')

   You can insert data into any of the columns in the Product2 table, assuming you have the necessary permissions.

4. Execute the following SQL:

   -- Declare a variable for each column you want to insert:
   declare @Name nvarchar(30)
   declare @ProductCode nvarchar(10)
   declare @Description nvarchar(max)
   
   -- Use a cursor to select your data, which enables SQL Server to extract
   -- the data from your local table to the variables.
   declare ins_cursor cursor for 
           select "Name", ProductCode, Description from NewProducts
       open ins_cursor
       fetch next from ins_cursor into @Name, @ProductCode, @Description -- At this point, the data from the first row
                                                                         -- is in your local variables.
   
       -- Move through the table with the @@FETCH_STATUS=0 
       while @@FETCH_STATUS=0
       Begin
   
            -- Execute the insert to push this data into Salesforce. Replace "SF_LINK" with the name of your Salesforce Linked Server.
           exec ('insert into Product2 ( "Name", ProductCode, Description ) Values (?, ?, ?)', @Name, @ProductCode ,@Description ) at SF_LINK
   
            -- Once the execution has taken place, you fetch the next row of data from your local table.
           fetch next from ins_cursor into @Name, @ProductCode, @Description
       End
   
       -- When all the rows have inserted you must close and deallocate the cursor.
       -- Failure to do this will not let you re-use the cursor.    
       close ins_cursor
       deallocate ins_cursor

Further information

• Tips for using SQL Server with Salesforce