Import Excel to SQL Server CE Automatically

1. Open Advanced ETL Processor Enterprise
2. Create a SQL Server CE connection by pointing to your `.sdf` file and configuring any required settings.
3. Set up a Directory connection that targets the folder containing your Excel spreadsheets.
4. Create a new Transformation:
   • Right-click within a Transformation group and select New
5. Remove the Validator object that appears by default in the workspace.
6. Configure the Data Reader:
   • Select the Excel source file (.xls or .xlsx)
   • Choose a worksheet, named range, or Excel table
   • Use file masks such as *.xlsx to process multiple files automatically

   Advanced ETL Processor can read multiple sheets and dynamic filenames without requiring Excel to be open or installed.

7. Configure the Data Writer:
   • Select the SQL Server CE connection
   • Choose the target table or create a new one
8. Map Fields:
   • Open the Transformer object
   • Drag-and-drop fields or use AutoMap to connect Excel columns to SQL Server CE fields
   • Apply any transformations needed, such as trimming or data type conversion
9. Execute and Validate:
   • Click Execute to begin importing
   • Review the logs to verify data success and identify any errors
10. Schedule or Automate:
    • Use the built-in scheduler to run the import periodically
    • Trigger jobs based on file changes or system events

SQL Server CE is ideal for compact applications that need embedded databases or local storage. Automating Excel imports improves reliability, supports consistent testing, and reduces deployment friction in desktop and mobile environments.