How to Import Parquet File to SQL Server Database? A Complete Guide

As we are well aware, .parquet files are used to manage and store large datasets. To run the desired operations and analysis of these files in a relational database management system, it becomes crucial to import Parquet to SQL Server. So, with the help of this article, we will learn the best ways that can help with the process and further load .parquet file to SQL database. 

Let’s now proceed with why this import works for both normal users and database administrators.

Why Import Parquet file to SQL Server? Common Reasons Explained

Before getting to the technicalities on why we need this import, we will first learn some situations where loading .parquet files to a SQL database helps users. 

• The primary benefit of importing the Parquet file is easy data access for both technical and non-technical users. For analytics and report generation, the Parquet files require specialized tools like Spark and Python, making it dependent on certain environments. With this Parquet to SQL Server migration, users can easy access data using SQL queries and commands.
• This import allows business users to use various analytics tools to process their .parquet data in SQL Server, like SQL Server Management Studio, Power BI, and Excel sheets.
• With this import, it becomes easier for the users to analyse the Parquet file data in a much easier way using the SQL queries. 
• Using the Parquet data in SQL Server database further eases the data integration with several applications that are connected with SQL Server. This helps with easy connection to the reporting tools and reduces the need for writing any application logic. 
• The next benefit to import .parquet file to SQL Server is better security and control over the data. With SQL Server, users can implement Role-Based Access Control over the crucial data. 

These are some of the advantages to load parquet file to SQL database. This helps understand how effective it is to add the .parquet data to the SQL database and further use its reporting and analytics tools for better data processing, and keep the data secure throughout. Let’s now move to how this process can be carried out securely and what are the things to keep in mind before carrying out the import parquet to SQL Server process. 

In case the user has a .parquet file and they wish to use the file for various purposes, they can efficiently convert Parquet to CSV and further import or export the data as per their requirements. Furthermore, the CSV file can also be used to add .parquet file data to the database by importing CSV flat file to SQL Server database.

Prerequisites to Load Parquet file to SQL Database Safely

Here are some of the points to keep in mind, as the process for this task is quite technical and might get complicated if users do not pay attention.

• The first crucial step is to review the schema of the .parquet files. 
• Next is to plan the complete data mapping before beginning the import process. 
• Before beginning the process, check the file size and memory specifications. 
• Next, check the data integrity before processing, and further check if there are any corrupted row groups.
• It is also important to prepare for strategies for error handling and disaster recovery in case anything goes wrong. 

We will now move to the methods that will help with import parquet to SQL Server. Let’s understand them step by step and learn the right way of implementing them.

How to Import Parquet file to SQL Server? Best Methods Explained 

We will now take a look at the optimal approaches that will help the users to carry out the import process easily. Beginning with a professional approach, let’s see how the method works for efficient .parquet to SQL table import. 

Method 1: Use a Dedicated Solution for Load Parquet to SQL Server

The solution we will be using here is the SysTools Parquet Converter Tool. This utility is designed to convert the files into desired formats and further access them as required. With the help of this tool, users can easily change their .parquet files to SQL Script and then import it to the SQL Database. The tool offers 10+ widely used file formats for all users and their requirements.

Here are the steps for using this utility easily:

1. Install and run the solution. Click on Add Files button to browse files.
2. Select the desired file, and click on the Next button.
3. From the Export As window, choose the SQL Script format.
4. Next, select the destination path and then click on the Export button.
5. Once done, the tool will offer the complete file report.

After converting the file to the SQL Script format, users can easily import .parquet to SQL Server database. This method is quite easy and efficient for users who are not very technically aware or strong with coding. However, if the users are technically aware and know their way around the code, they can go with the other manual methods. We will take a look at the next method now. 

Method 2: Import the .parquet file using Azure Synapse Analytics

This is method is quite efficient for users who need to load their files to a cloud database. Below are the steps to how we can proceed with this method.

1. The first step is to upload the Parquet files to Azure Data Lake Storage. This will ensure simple file access. 
2. Next step is to create the Azure Synapse workspace that will help with querying the Parquet files. 
3. Then, grant the required permissions to Azure Synapse to read the Parquet files. 
4. Once, the steps till here are completed, validate the Parquet file to know the structure. 
5. Then, create a destination for the Parquet file in SQL Server database. This destination will store the imported data. 
6. To access the data and perform any operations, it is then required to change the data types within the file to data types compatible with SQL Server. 
7. Now its time to load the data in the SQL Server. The transformed data will help users with processing the data more easily with any operation and query. 
8. Lastly, we will validate the imported data in the SQL Server database. 

This method is effective for users who are aware of the technicalities and have a core idea about Azure Synapse Analytics. However, approaching with this method comes with its risks. Not following the steps carefully might lead to data loss. Hence, if any user chooses this method, it is suggested to take proper steps and follow the prerequisites carefully. Let’s now take a look at the next method that will help the users with the import .parquet to SQL Server process. 

Conclusion

With the help of this write-up, we have learned the best ways to import Parquet to SQL Server. Furthermore, we have also mentioned the reasons that make this import process helpful for the users. To make the process understandable and doable for the users, we have mentioned the best ways that will help users with the easy load parquet to SQL Server process.