Return value of SQLCMD

Question

I need to check the exit status (success/failure) of a query run through SQLCMD utility. For example, the server I am connecting doesn't have a database name EastWind. Then, the command below fails with the message ...

> "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\SQLCMD.EXE" 
     -S ZEPHIR -E -Q "USE WestWind"
Changed database context to 'WestWind'.
> echo %errorlevel%
0
> "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\SQLCMD.EXE" 
     -S ZEPHIR -E -Q "USE EastWind"
Database 'EastWind' does not exist. Make sure that the name is entered correctly
> echo %errorlevel%
0

I see that the return value is the same in both the cases. How can I check if a command has failed in SQLCMD?

Answer 1

You need to use the -V option.

Example:

  > SQLCMD.EXE -S whatever -E -V16 -Q "USE does_not_exist"
  Msg 911, Level 16, State 1, ...
  Could not locate entry ...
  > echo %ERRORLEVEL%
  16

Update: Alternatively you can use the -b option. Which has different semantics to the execution (the whole batch stops on the first error). YMMV.

Example:

  > SQLCMD.EXE -S whatever -E -b -Q "USE does_not_exist"
  Msg 911, Level 16, State 1, ...
  Could not locate entry ...
  > echo %ERRORLEVEL%
  1

You can also combine -b and -V.

Answer 2

I am not sure, but did you tried SQLCMD -m switch? sqlcmd Utility