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Execute T-SQL from a script file with sqlcmd

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW) SQL database in Microsoft Fabric Preview

Use sqlcmd to run a Transact-SQL script file. A Transact-SQL script file is a text file that can contain a combination of Transact-SQL statements, sqlcmd commands, and scripting variables.

Create a script file

Assuming you've installed the AdventureWorks2022 sample database, follow the example in this section to create a script file that you can run from the command prompt with sqlcmd.

To create a Transact-SQL script file by using Notepad, follow these steps:

  1. Select Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then select Notepad.

  2. Copy and paste the following Transact-SQL code into Notepad::

    USE AdventureWorks2022;
GO
SELECT p.FirstName + ' ' + p.LastName AS 'Employee Name',
a.AddressLine1, a.AddressLine2 , a.City, a.PostalCode
FROM Person.Person AS p
   INNER JOIN HumanResources.Employee AS e
        ON p.BusinessEntityID = e.BusinessEntityID
    INNER JOIN Person.BusinessEntityAddress bea
        ON bea.BusinessEntityID = e.BusinessEntityID
    INNER JOIN Person.Address AS a
        ON a.AddressID = bea.AddressID;
GO

  3. Save the file as myScript.sql in a folder, such as C:\scripts drive.

Run the script file

  1. Open a command prompt window.

  2. In the Command Prompt window, type: sqlcmd -S myServer\instanceName -i C:\scripts\myScript.sql

  3. Press ENTER.

A list of Adventure Works employee names and addresses is written to the command prompt window.

Save the output to a text file

  1. Open a command prompt window.

  2. In the Command Prompt window, type: sqlcmd -S myServer\instanceName -i C:\scripts\myScript.sql -o C:\EmpAdds.txt

  3. Press ENTER.

No output is returned in the Command Prompt window. Instead, the output is sent to the EmpAdds.txt file. You can verify this output by opening the EmpAdds.txt file.

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