How to allow excel, .csv, etc. upload to MSSQL

[GoodOyster]

Have an application where the user will be able to upload their list to the database. This list may be in an .xls, .csv, .txt or .dbf file. Simply uploading files to the server is no problem, and I guess using ODBC or some other connection string we could import the data to MSSQL.

The problem is finding a way to let the user map their header fields to those in our database so that we can import the data properly.

Any ideas, suggestions, existing components, etc. we can use for this?

[siteguru]

How about offering a link that uses ASP to get the field headers from the database, creates a template file (of appropriate type) then allows the user to download that template? That way when they populate it and upload it then it should be in the proper format.

[GoodOyster]

How about offering a link that uses ASP to get the field headers from the database, creates a template file (of appropriate type) then allows the user to download that template? That way when they populate it and upload it then it should be in the proper format.

That might work if the users weren't too lazy to do anything beyond downloading their list from some address book (which they usually need tech support to help them with), and then remembering where they saved the file so they could upload it to our server. Expecting them to download a template, then transfer their data to the template and then upload it back to our server is like expecting a 4 year old to pick up his toys and put them away without being told!