Empty database over 10GB in size

Question

While I was trying to populate a table from a 11GB text file (.tsv) I got the error:

Could not allocate space for object 'X' in database 'Y' because the 'PRIMARY' filegroup is full. Create disk space by deleting unneeded files, dropping objects in the filegroup, adding additional files to the filegroup, or setting autogrowth on for existing files in the filegroup.

I thought the problem was the database exceeded 10GB, which is the limit for SQL Express. Yet, when I checked, I noticed the database is actually empty. The query

SELECT TOP 10 *
FROM Table

Takes several minutes to execute and it gives me back nothing. When I checked under properties > files I found out filegroup PRIMARY is actually 10240MB.

What is this about, and how can solve the problem?

Answer 1

Populating 11GB text file into SQL server express will give an error since it will exceed the edition limit. You either split the text file into 2 files or upgrade to standard edition. Or try Oracle XE? It store up to 11GB :) might be just enough for you.