SQL SELECT INTO

SQL SELECT INTO Statement

« Previous

Next Chapter »

---

With SQL, you can copy information from one table into another.

The SELECT INTO statement copies data from one table and inserts it into a new table.

---

The SQL SELECT INTO Statement

The SELECT INTO statement selects data from one table and inserts it into a new table.

SQL SELECT INTO Syntax

We can copy all columns into the new table:

SELECT *
INTO newtable [IN externaldb]
FROM table1;

Or we can copy only the columns we want into the new table:

SELECT column_name(s)
INTO newtable [IN externaldb]
FROM table1;

	Tip: The new table will be created with the column-names and types as defined in the SELECT statement. You can apply new names using the AS clause.

---

SQL SELECT INTO Examples

Create a backup copy of Customers:

SELECT *
INTO CustomersBackup2013
FROM Customers;

Use the IN clause to copy the table into another database:

SELECT *
INTO CustomersBackup2013 IN 'Backup.mdb'
FROM Customers;

Copy only a few columns into the new table:

SELECT CustomerName, ContactName
INTO CustomersBackup2013
FROM Customers;

Copy only the German customers into the new table:

SELECT *
INTO CustomersBackup2013
FROM Customers
WHERE Country='Germany';

Copy data from more than one table into the new table:

SELECT Customers.CustomerName, Orders.OrderID
INTO CustomersOrderBackup2013
FROM Customers
LEFT JOIN Orders
ON Customers.CustomerID=Orders.CustomerID;

Tip: The SELECT INTO statement can also be used to create a new, empty table using the schema of another. Just add a WHERE clause that causes the query to return no data:

SELECT *
INTO newtable
FROM table1
WHERE 1=0;

« Previous

Next Chapter »