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How to Migrate Microsoft Excel Data to Azure Database

  • Post Date
    November 21, 2025
How to Migrate Microsoft Excel Data to Azure Database
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Migrating Excel Data to Azure SQL Database Using Azure Data Factory

Migrating Microsoft Excel data into Azure SQL Database becomes powerful, reliable, and automated when done using Azure Data Factory (ADF).


 

ADF is Microsoft’s cloud-based ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) service designed to move data from various sources (like Excel files) into Azure services seamlessly.

 

ADF ensures the migration is scalable, automated, secure, and error-free, making it the best solution for production-grade pipelines.

 

Below is the complete blog-style explanation with detailed steps.

What is Azure Data Factory?

Azure Data Factory is a cloud-native data integration service that connects, extracts, transforms, and loads data from different sources to various destinations.
It supports over 100+ connectors, including Excel, SQL Server, Blob Storage, Data Lake, APIs, and more.

In the context of Excel migration, ADF performs these tasks:

What is Azure Data Factory?
  • Reads Excel files from local or cloud storage
  • Validates and interprets columns
  • Maps data to Azure SQL schema
  • Loads the data automatically
  • Schedules the pipeline for repeated ingestion

This is ideal for businesses wanting a modern, automated, and cloud-ready data solution.

📌 Step-by-Step Guide: Migrating Excel to Azure SQL Using Azure Data Factory

Step 1: Upload Your Excel File to Azure Storage :

Step 1: Upload Your Excel File to Azure Storage :

Before ADF can read the file, it must be stored in Azure.
Upload your .xlsx file into:

  • Azure Blob Storage (recommended) Or
  • Azure Data Lake Gen2

Steps:

  • 1. Go to Azure Portal
  • 2. Open your Storage Account
  • 3. Go to Containers
  • 4. Create a new container (e.g., excel-files)
  • 5. Click Upload → Select your Excel file

This makes the file accessible to Azure Data Factory.

Step 2: Create an Azure Data Factory Instance

Now you need the Data Factory environment.

Steps:

  • 1. Go to Azure Portal
  • 2. Click Create a Resource
  • 3. Search Data Factory
  • 4. Provide:
  • 5. Click Create
Once deployed, open the Data Factory Studio.
Begin Seamless Excel-to-Azure Migration

Step 3: Create Linked Service for Azure Storage

ADF needs permission to read the Excel file.

Steps:

  • 1. Go to Manage → Linked Services
  • 2. Click + New
  • 3. Select Azure Blob Storage or Azure Data Lake Gen2
  • 4. Enter:
  • Storage Account name
  • Key Authentication / Managed Identity
  • 5. Test Connection → Create
This connects ADF to your Excel file.

Step 4: Create Linked Service for Azure SQL Database

Now connect ADF to your destination Azure SQL Database.

Steps:

  • 1. Again, click New Linked Service
  • 2. Select Azure SQL Database
  • 3. Enter:
  • Server Name
  • Database Name
  • Username & Password
  • 4. Test Connection → Create
ADF can now write data into your SQL database.

Step 5: Create an Excel Dataset (Source Dataset)

This tells ADF how to read your Excel file.

Steps:

  • 1. Go to Author → Datasets → +New
  • 2. Choose Excel
  • 3. Select the Linked Service you created
  • 4. Browse and select the Excel file
  • 5. Configure:
  • Sheet name
  • First row as header
  • Range if needed
This loads the Excel structure into ADF.

Step 6: Create SQL Dataset (Destination Dataset)

This tells ADF where to insert the data in your SQL database.

Steps:

  • 1. Create New Dataset
  • 2. Select Azure SQL Database
  • 3. Pick the correct Linked Service
  • 4. Choose table name
  • You can click Auto Create Table if the table doesn’t exist

Step 7: Build the ADF Pipeline

Now you will create the actual pipeline.

Steps:

  • 1. Go to Author → Pipelines → +New Pipeline
  • 2. Add a Copy Data activity
  • 3. Select the Excel Dataset as Source
  • 4. Select the SQL Dataset as Sink
  • 5. Configure extra settings (optional):
  • Upsert (update & insert)
  • Pre-copy script
  • Data Formatting
This defines the entire migration workflow.

Step 8: Perform Column Mapping

ADF will automatically detect matching columns, but you can adjust them.

Steps:

  • 1. Click Mapping tab
  • 2. Match Excel columns → SQL columns
  • 3. Convert data types if necessary
  • 4. Remove columns you don’t need
Proper mapping ensures error-free data loading.

Step 9: Run the Pipeline

Finally, execute the pipeline.

Steps:

  • 1. Click Debug (test run)
  • 2. Fix any errors
  • 3. Click Publish to save
  • 4. Click Trigger Now to start the pipeline

Step 10: Schedule the Pipeline (Optional)

If you want Excel data to refresh automatically:

Steps:

  • 1. Go to Triggers → + Add
  • 2. Choose frequency:
  • Daily
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • 3. Save and activate
  • 4. Now your Excel data will sync automatically on schedule.

This defines the entire process of how to Migrate Excel data to Azure Database workflow.

Start Your Seamless Excel-to-Azure Migration Today

Modernize your data pipeline with automated, scalable, and secure Azure Data Factory workflows.

👉 Talk to an Azure Expert

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