---
name: "datacopy"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "freetds"
version: "1.5.20-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/datacopy"
---

# datacopy(1)

move table data between two servers

## NAME

**datacopy** – move table data between two servers

## SYNOPSIS

**datacopy** \[**-vdE**\]{ **-t** \| **-a** \| **-c** *owner*} \[**-b** *batchsize*\] \[**-p** *packetsize*\] \[**-S** *server/username/password/database/table\_or\_view*\] \[**-D** *server/username/password/database/table*\] \[**-T** *textsize*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**datacopy** is a utility distributed with FreeTDS. **datacopy** will move table data from one server to another without the need for intermediate files. **datacopy** is much faster and more efficient than is freebcp out/in.

**datacopy** makes use of the db-lib bcp API built into FreeTDS. This API is also available to application developers.

**datacopy** can be used to migrate data between Sybase ASE and SQL Server or vice versa.

## OPTIONS

- **-t**

  Truncate target table before loading data.

- **-a**

  Append data to target table.

- **-c** *owner*

  Create the target table with the same schema as the source table. **datacopy** will submit a ‘CREATE TABLE’ command on the target server using the specified owner in the command, e.g. ‘CREATE TABLE owner.table (...).’

- **-b** *batchsize*

  The number of rows per batch of data copied.  Each batch of data is effectively 'committed' to the database. The default is 1000.

- **-p** *packetsize*

  The number of bytes, per network packet, sent to and from the servers. Increased packet size can enhance performance.

- **-T** *textsize*

  Specify size of TEXT/IMAGE column from network.

- **-v**

  Produce verbose output, including diagnostic timings.

- **-d**

  Produce freetds TDSDUMP output. (Serious debug only!)

- **-S** *server/username/password/database/table\_or\_view*

  The connection information for the source server and the location/name of the table (or view) to be copied. If not specified,  **datacopy** prompts the user for the information.

- **-D** *server/username/password/database/table*

  The connection information for the destination server and the location/name of the target table. If not specified,  **datacopy** prompts the user for the information.

- **-E**

  Keep identity values.

## SEE ALSO

[freebcp(1)](/freebcp/1.md), [defncopy(1)](/defncopy/1.md), [bsqldb(1)](/bsqldb/1.md), [tsql(1)](/tsql/1.md),

## HISTORY

**datacopy** first appeared in FreeTDS 0.64.

## AUTHORS

 The  **datacopy** utility was written by Bill Thompson ⟨thompbil@exchange.uk.ml.com⟩.