How to fix Error 5357 on Windows Server 2025 / Windows 11

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Troubleshooting Guide: SQL Server Error 5357

Why This Error Happens

Error 5357 occurs when a BULK INSERT or OPENROWSET(BULK…) command specifies an option (such as FORMATFILE_DATA_SOURCE, CODEPAGE, or certain field/row terminators) that is incompatible with the combination of the declared data FORMAT (e.g., CSV) and the PARSER_VERSION being used (e.g., 2.0). This typically happens because PARSERVERSION 2.0 uses a stricter, high-performance parsing engine that does not support legacy options available in PARSERVERSION 1.0. It can also occur after an in-place upgrade to SQL Server 2025 if existing ETL scripts or SSIS packages were written against older parser defaults that are no longer backward compatible.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

Step 1: Identify the Conflicting Syntax

  • Locate the specific T-SQL script or stored procedure referenced in the error log that triggered Error 5357.
  • Check the WITH clause of your BULK INSERT or OPENROWSET statement for the exact option named in the error message (the first %ls).
  • Cross-reference this option against the official Microsoft documentation for PARSER_VERSION 2.0 limitations.

Step 2: Adjust the PARSER_VERSION Argument

  • If you require the legacy option (e.g., specific code pages or complex format files), force the engine back to the original parser.
  • Modify your script to explicitly include: PARSER_VERSION = '1.0'
  • Example syntax:
  BULK INSERT dbo.YourTable
  FROM 'D:\Data\import.csv'
  WITH (
      FORMAT = 'CSV',
      PARSER_VERSION = '1.0',
      FIRSTROW = 2
  );

Step 3: Remove Incompatible Options for Format 2.0

  • If performance is a priority and you want to keep PARSER_VERSION = '2.0', remove the unsupported option from the WITH clause entirely.
  • Replace deprecated format file dependencies with inline specifications where possible, as PARSER_VERSION 2.0 often requires CSV or WIDECHAR formats without relying on older .fmt file structures for row terminators.

Step 4: Validate File Encoding and Format Alignment

  • Ensure the source file referenced in the path (e.g., D:\Data\import.csv) matches the FORMAT type declared in the query.
  • Open the source file in a hex editor or Notepad++ to verify the terminator characters match what is allowed by the specific parser version you settled on in Step 2 or 3.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • Verify the Fix: Re-run the BULK INSERT command in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) connected to your SQL Server 2025 instance. A successful execution with a “rows affected” message confirms the syntax conflict is resolved.
  • Alternative Solution: If the specific option is mandatory for your business logic and is strictly unsupported in 2.0, bypass the native BULK INSERT limitations by importing the data via OPENROWSET combined with Azure Data Factory or the SQL Server Import/Export Wizard, which handles format abstraction automatically.