title: Error: "Bulk load data conversion error (type mismatch or invalid character for the specified codepage) for row 2, column 1 (Date)."
body: <p>For SQL Server 2008 R2, is it possible to import a .csv file with a date in "MM/DD/YYYY" format, using "bulk insert"? Or do I have to alter my .csv file to have a format that SQL Server 2008 R2 expects?</p>
  
  <p>I execute the following in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2:</p>
  
  <pre><code>BULK
  INSERT dbo.TCsvOptionContracts
  FROM 'C:\x.csv'
  WITH
  (
  FIELDTERMINATOR = ',',
  ROWTERMINATOR = '\n',
  FORMATFILE = 'C:\format.xml',
  FIRSTROW = 2
  )
  GO
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And I get this error:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Bulk load data conversion error (type mismatch or invalid character for the specified codepage) for row 2, column 1 (Date).
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The date in this column of the .csv file is in the form MM/DD/YYYY, i.e. "02/16/2011".</p>
  
  <p>p.s. I generated a format file with the following command, however, I didn't see any option to specify the MM/DD/YYYY date format for the offending column:</p>
  
  <pre><code>bcp Engine..TCsvOptionContracts format nul -c -x -f C:\format.xml -t, -T
  </code></pre>