Is there a way to insert a C# string into a SQL varbinary column?

Question

I am using SqlConnection and SqlCommand in C# to insert rows of strings (via Parameters.AddWithValue) into SQL Server. One of the columns I need to insert into is a Varbinary. Is there any way to do the conversion in either C# or SQL Server?

Can you post your code as well as an example of what and where in the code you want this conversion to take place — MethodMan
– MethodMan, Commented Apr 10, 2013 at 20:57
Couldn't you cast the string to a varbinary in your SQL? Or do you want it stored in the DB as the original string? — Brian
– Brian, Commented Apr 10, 2013 at 20:59

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:29:18Z

2

According to this answer, you can use the CONVERT function to insert a string into a VARBINARY column. Make sure you use the proper encoding, as discussed in that answer.

insert Table_2 (Test) values( CONVERT(varbinary(30), N'this is a test') ) 
select * from Table_2
select CONVERT(nvarchar(30), test) from Table_2

So the C# code would look something like

    // Get from config
    string connectionString = "";

    using (var conn = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
    {
        string sql = "insert Table_2 (Test) values( CONVERT(varbinary(30), @nvarcharParam) )";
        using (var cmd = new SqlCommand(sql, conn))
        {
            var param = cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("nvarcharParam", "This is a test");
            param.DbType = DbType.String;

            cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
        }
    }

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:29

CommunityBot

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answered Apr 10, 2013 at 21:00

mgnoonan

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