Read\Write Files in SQL 2000

Hi, I was just wondering if it was possible/ the best way to read and write text files for example in SQL 2000?

Is it only possible to do this using extended stored procedures or do SQL commands exist to perform file IO?

Thanks very much,

Ewen

What is your purpose for this ? Do you intend to write query results to text file ? You can use BCP to do that. Or for importing a text file into a table ? use BULK INSERT