# Microsoft SQL Server

[Microsoft SQL Server](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server) can
either be used as a data source or a data destination in Zuar Runner.

.. image:: assets/ms-sql-1.png
   :alt: Zuar Runner and Microsoft SQL Server

Source plugin example: [Query](/jobs/query/)

Destination plugin examples: [CSV](/jobs/csv/),
[Salesforce](/connectors/salesforce/),
[SQL](/jobs/sql/)

## Microsoft SQL Server as a Data Destination

- Zuar Runner automatically creates the Microsoft SQL Server database schema if it doesn't exist
- Zuar Runner automatically creates the Microsoft SQL Server database tables if they don't exist
- Zuar Runner automatically determines data types for Microsoft SQL Server columns
- Zuar Runner automatically adds new columns to Microsoft SQL Server tables based on new fields in source systems 
- Zuar Runner automatically adjusts Microsoft SQL Server tables based on changes in source data

## Microsoft SQL Server Specific Setup

Below is the [database url](/databases/database-urls/)
structure for connecting to a Microsoft SQL Server database:

`mssql+pyodbc://<username>:<password>@<hostname>/<database>?<parameters>`

.. NOTE::

   Microsoft SQL Server requires a parameter for the Microsoft SQL
   Server driver. Typically this is **?driver=ODBC+Driver+17+for+SQL+Server**.

Here's an example of using a Microsoft SQL Server database as a
destination in a [CSV](/jobs/csv/) job:

.. image:: assets/microsoft-sql-server__output.png
   :alt: Microsoft SQL Server Destination

.. NOTE::

   When outputting to a Microsoft SQL Server database, leaving the
   "Schema" blank will create a table in the **dbo** schema.

## SQL

Zuar Runner can send [SQL](/jobs/sql/) statements to a Microsoft
SQL Server database. Use Microsoft SQL Server syntax in these Zuar Runner
SQL jobs.