How to use sqlcmd to create a database

Question

I have a .sql script and I want to build a database from it. How to do it in sqlcmd? I know it's like:

CREATE DATABASE dbName
GO

But how to specify the .sql script and location to build the database?

Answer 1

Use @Jeremiah Peschka's answer to supply the sqlcmd utility with the script to execute.

As for the location for the newly created database, it can be specified as part of the CREATE DATABASE command:

CREATE DATABASE dbName
ON (
  NAME = dbName_dat,
  FILENAME = 'D:\path\to\dbName.mdf'
)
LOG ON (
  NAME = dbName_log,
  FILENAME = 'D:\path\to\dbName.ldf'
)

As you can see from the linked article, you can specify other properties as well, like initial size, maximum size etc.

Answer 2

sqlcmd -i C:\path\to\file.sql

More options can be found in SQL Server books online.

Answer 3

This is very simple. Just enter following command to run sqlcmd:
sqlcmd -U sa -P password
Then enter:

CREATE DATABASE MYDB
GO

This will create the db. Then enter "quit" to exit.

Answer 4

use this: sqlcmd -i "c:\my scripts\my script.sql"

see sqlcmd description at MS for other options