title: "Run Transact-SQL Script Files Using sqlcmd | Microsoft Docs" ms.custom: "" ms.date: "07/15/2016" ms.prod: "sql" ms.prod_service: "sql-tools" ms.service: "" ms.technology: ssms ms.reviewer: "" ms.suite: "sql" ms.technology:
- "database-engine" ms.tgt_pltfrm: "" ms.topic: "article" helpviewer_keywords:
- "transact sql scripts" ms.assetid: 90067eb8-ca3e-44e8-bb1a-bf7d1a359423 caps.latest.revision: 42 author: "mightypen" ms.author: "genemi" manager: "craigg" monikerRange: ">= aps-pdw-2016 || = azuresqldb-current || = azure-sqldw-latest || >= sql-server-2016 || = sqlallproducts-allversions"
[!INCLUDEappliesto-ss-asdb-asdw-pdw-md] 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.
To create a simple Transact-SQL script file by using Notepad, follow these steps:
-
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Notepad.
-
Copy and paste the following Transact-SQL code into Notepad:
USE AdventureWorks2012; 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 -
Save the file as myScript.sql in the C drive.
-
Open a command prompt window.
-
In the Command Prompt window, type: sqlcmd -S myServer\instanceName -i C:\myScript.sql
-
Press ENTER.
A list of [!INCLUDEssSampleDBCoShort] employee names and addresses is written to the command prompt window.
-
Open a command prompt window.
-
In the Command Prompt window, type: sqlcmd -S myServer\instanceName -i C:\myScript.sql -o C:\EmpAdds.txt
-
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.