I want to import a textfile (approx 5mb) into a SQL Server table on a regular basis.

The way I am doing this at the moment is via a DTS package, where I delete a base table and import the new data. This works but my transaction log has grown 200Mb,

I have looked at Bulk Insert within DTS, but assume this creates a table each time, therefore my base table with indexes in will be lost.

My problem is the Tran Log, whats the best practice to delete this log or stop it growing. The freshly created base table is used only for reporting off.

i think you should check out 'Using Recovery Models' on BOL, if you don't know about recovery models already. if you use 'simple recovery model' for a database (if this is what you need) means the transaction log files won't grow continually.

after that you may check-out 'Truncating the Transaction Log'. i didn't read this one :); the method i use is: i detach the database, then i delete the .ldf file(s) and then i attach the database back and a new small .ldf file is automatically created :). do a backup first if you want to try this method.

defiant.