Insert or update row
Inserts a new row or updates an existing row in a SQL Server table based on column-value mappings. Returns whether the operation performed was an INSERT or an UPDATE.
Use this when you need to save a single record to the database and don't know in advance whether it already exists — for example, syncing data from an external API or processing form submissions where the same record may be created or modified.
When to use this
- To save a record from an external source (API, webhook, form) where the row may or may not already exist in the target table.
- To upsert a single row based on key column match — inserting if new, updating if existing.
- When you need to know whether the row was inserted or updated, so downstream actions can branch on the result.
Note
This action operates on a single row. To upsert multiple rows in bulk, use Merge Tables instead.
How it works
- Input: A table name and a column-value mapping that defines both the match key and the values to write.
- Processing: Checks whether a row matching the key columns exists in the target table. If it exists, updates the row with the mapped values. If not, inserts a new row.
- Output: Returns the string
INSERTorUPDATEindicating which operation was performed. The value is stored in the Flow variable specified by Result variable name.
Example 
This flow syncs customer data from an external API into a SQL Server table. HTTP Request fetches customer data from a web API. Save customer data upserts the record into the Customers table — inserting it if the customer is new, or updating it if the customer already exists. Send Email then sends a confirmation. Use this pattern when syncing external data where the same record may arrive as a new insert or an update to an existing row.
Properties
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Title | No | A descriptive title for the action. |
| Connection | Yes | The SQL Server Connection to the target database. |
| Enable dynamic connection | No | When enabled, uses a connection created at runtime by Create Connection. Use this when the target database varies between runs. |
| Table name | Yes | The name of the table to insert or update the row in. |
| Column value mapping | Yes | Defines the columns, their values, and which columns are used as match keys. See Column value mapping below. |
| Result variable name | No | The name of a Flow variable that receives the operation performed — either INSERT or UPDATE. Default is operation. Use this to branch downstream logic based on the result. |
| Command timeout (seconds) | No | Maximum execution time in seconds. The action fails with a timeout error if exceeded. Default is 120 seconds. |
| Disabled | No | When checked, the action is skipped during Flow execution. |
| Description | No | Additional notes or comments about the action or configuration. |
Column value mapping
Click the edit icon next to Column value mapping to open the mapping editor. You can define mappings manually with + Add column mapping, or click + Add column mapping(s) from table definition to generate the list from the target table schema.
Each entry has four fields:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Is Key | When checked, the column is used as a match condition. The action checks if a row with this key value exists — if yes, it updates; if not, it inserts. At least one column must be marked as key. |
| Column name | The name of the column in the target table. |
| Data type | The data type of the column. Default is Auto (inferred from the table). |
| Value | The value to write. Select from available Flow Variables or upstream action outputs. |
Important
At least one column must have Is Key checked. Without a key, the action cannot determine whether to insert or update.
Returns
A string value — either INSERT or UPDATE — indicating which database operation was performed. If Result variable name is set, the value is stored in the specified Flow variable.
See also
- Insert Rows — bulk-inserts rows from a DataReader or DataTable.
- Insert Entity — inserts a typed entity object as a new row.
- Update Entity — updates a row from a typed entity object.
- Merge Tables — merges multiple rows with insert/update/delete logic.
- Execute Command — runs custom SQL for complex upsert scenarios.
- Connection — how to set up a SQL Server connection.
SQL Server: Videos / Getting started
This section contains videos to help you get started quickly working with Azure SQL / SQL Server using Flow.
Dump CSV file from Azure Blob container to Azure SQL table
This video demonstrates how to import all records from a CSV file into an Azure SQL table.
In the demo, no data import options (such as data type conversion, number or date formatting) are specified, meaning the data is imported as raw text.