1. Justin Randall jrandall@sqlsentry.com
SQLintersection Session: Friday, 10:00am-11:15pm Automating SQL Server Administration Using SQLCMD
Justin Randall

2. Speaker: Justin Randall
Senior Consultant
Working with data and databases since 1985
First Sybase SQL Server project: 1997
First Microsoft SQL Server project: 1999, version 7.0

3. Overview Introduction Execution Options Uses
The sqlcmd utility: a command-line tool for submitting T-SQL statements, system procedures, and script files.
Connect to local and remote instances
Read and Write Text files
Execution Options
SSMS Query Editor, Windows Command Prompt, SQL Server Agent
Uses
automating any repetitive tasks, i.e. batch processing, unit testing
solid alternative to SSIS for low to medium complexity tasks
Sqlcmd makes many SQL Server tasks, such as automating test runs and maintenance tasks, easier and quicker. The sqlcmd command-line utility is valuable for executing batches of SQL Statements to SQL servers, and saving results to file.
The sqlcmd utility in SQL Server is a command-line tool that lets you submit T-SQL statements or batches to local and remote instances of SQL Server. The utility is extremely useful for repetitive database tasks such as batch processing or unit testing. It also provides an easy way of simulating load to a database under development.

4. Execution Options SSMS Query Editor in SQLCMD Mode Command Prompt
Interactive or script file
Command Prompt
Interactive or single command
SQL Server Agent
CmdExec Job Step
Ola Hallengren's Maintenance Solution

5. Demo Execution Options
Run AutomateBackups script in SSMS (sqlcmd mode)
Run same query in Windows command line – output to AutoBackupResults.txt sqlcmd –E –S .\SQLServer2014 –d master –i D:\SQLDemos\AutomateBackup.sql –o D:\SQLDemos\AutoBackupResults.txt
Run as SQLAgent job

6. Syntax & Elements Command Line Options Scripting Variables Commands
Login-Related Options, Input/Output Options, Query Execution Options, Formatting Options, Error Reporting Options, Miscellaneous Options
Scripting Variables
Commands
Editing Commands, Variables, Output Commands, Execution Control Commands, Miscellaneous Commands
Take a look at a sampling of options, variables, and commands

7. Useful Command Line Options
-A (dedicated administrator connection)
-b (terminate batch job if there is an error
-d Database name
-E (use trusted connection)
-i input file (path and filename)
-o output file (path and filename)
-q "command line query; -Q "command line query" (and exit)
-S server[\instance name] [,port]
-U login id; -P password

8. Demo Command Line Options
sqlcmd –U test –P test –S . –d WideWorldImportersLegacy –q "SELECT CAST(c.CustomerName AS nvarchar(35)), CAST( Address AS nvarchar35)) From Sales.Customers c Join Application.People p on c.PrimaryContactPersonID = p.PersonID Where c.CreditLimit > 3000"
sqlcmd –U test –P test –S . –d WideWorldImportersLegacy –i D:\SQLDemos\inputscript.sql
sqlcmd –E –S . –d WideWorldImportersLegacy –i D:\SQLDemos\inputscript.sql
sqlcmd –E –S . –d WideWorldImportersLegacy –i D:\SQLDemos\inputscript.sql –o D:\SQLDemos\ouputscript.txt

9. Using Variables
Set variables externally and pass them into a script file
sqlcmd –E –S. –i"D:\SQLCMDS\script1.sql" –v var1=value1 var2=value2
Interactive mode: SET variable, call from sqlcmd
C:\>SET tablename=sys.databases sqlcmd –d master SELECT name, database_id from $(tablename)
Set variables inside the SQLCMD script in SSMS
:SETVAR DbName = "AdventureWorks2012"
USE $(DbName);

10. Demo Scripting Variables
1. C:\>sqlcmd –E –S .\SQLServer2014 –d AdventureWorks2014 –v LastName="Adams" TableName=Person.Person –i "D:\SQLDemos\Variables.txt"
2. SET TableName=Person.Person SET LastName="Adams" sqlcmd -E –S .\SQLServer2014 –d AdventureWorks Select FirstName +' ' + LastName
From $(TableName) Where LastName = $(LastName)

11. Commands
:!![<command>] – Execute a command in the Windows command shell
executed on the computer on which sqlcmd is running
run immediately
not all Windows command shell commands work
:connect – to a local or remote SQL Server instance
:serverlist
:setvar <variable> <value>
:help
:quit or :exit

12. Demo
Commands
Run script file:

13. Automation Automate any number of repetitive tasks that require:
file creation / deletion
connecting to multiple servers
other Windows command prompt commands
Read/Write data in SQL Server
Examples:
Backup-Restore
Log Shipping set up
Business tasks

14. Demo
Automation

15. References Books Online: sqlcmd Utility
Book Online: Using the sqlcmd Utility
sqlcmd Basics
Deploying Scripts with sqlcmd

16. Review Introduction Execution Options Uses
The sqlcmd utility: a command-line tool for submitting T-SQL statements, system procedures, and script files.
Connect to local and remote instances
Read and Write Text files
Execution Options
SSMS Query Editor, Windows Command Prompt, SQL Server Agent
Uses
automating any repetitive tasks, i.e. batch processing, server configuration, etc.
solid alternative to SSIS for low to medium complexity tasks

17. Questions?
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Automating SQL Server Administration Using SQLCMD
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18. 2017 Save the Date! May 21-24 www.SQLintersection.com
We’re back in Orlando!
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19. Final Comments
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References slide (or more than one)
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