sqlcmd and escape characters

[Desmodromic]

The command below runs fine from within Management Studio

exec sp_MSforeachtable @command1="exec sp_spaceused '?' "

However, I'd like to run it via sqlcmd. I've tried various
combinations of escaping the doulbe and single quotes but without
success.

sqlcmd -E -Q "sp_MSforeachtable @command1=\"exec sp_spaceused '?'\""
Sqlcmd: 'exec sp_spaceused '?'\""': Unexpected argument. Enter '-?'
for help.
Any ideas?

Thanks,

\M

[Erland Sommarskog]

Desmodromic (da*******@yahoo.com.au) writes:

The command below runs fine from within Management Studio

exec sp_MSforeachtable @command1="exec sp_spaceused '?' "

However, I'd like to run it via sqlcmd. I've tried various
combinations of escaping the doulbe and single quotes but without
success.

sqlcmd -E -Q "sp_MSforeachtable @command1=\"exec sp_spaceused '?'\""
Sqlcmd: 'exec sp_spaceused '?'\""': Unexpected argument. Enter '-?'
for help.

Try:

sqlcmd -E -Q "sp_MSforeachtable @command1='exec sp_spaceused ''?'''"

In SQL you use ' delimit strings. " may also work as a string delimiter,
depending on the setting QUOTED_IDENTIFIER, but as this setting is normally
on, stick to ' and double it when nested.

--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, es****@sommarskog.se

Books Online for SQL Server 2005 at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...ads/books.mspx
Books Online for SQL Server 2000 at
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinf...ons/books.mspx

[Desmodromic]

On Nov 22, 5:20 pm, Erland Sommarskog <[e-mail]:

Desmodromic ([e-mail]) writes:

The command below runs fine from within Management Studio

exec sp_MSforeachtable @command1="exec sp_spaceused '?' "

However, I'd like to run it via sqlcmd. I've tried various
combinations of escaping the doulbe and single quotes but without
success.

sqlcmd -E -Q "sp_MSforeachtable @command1=\"exec sp_spaceused '?'\""
Sqlcmd: 'exec sp_spaceused '?'\""': Unexpected argument. Enter '-?'
for help.

Try:

sqlcmd -E -Q "sp_MSforeachtable @command1='exec sp_spaceused ''?'''"

In SQL you use ' delimit strings. " may also work as a string delimiter,
depending on the setting QUOTED_IDENTIFIER, but as this setting is normally
on, stick to ' and double it when nested.

--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, [e-mail]

Books Online for SQL Server 2005 athttp://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/downloads/books...
Books Online for SQL Server 2000 athttp://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinfo/previousversions/books.mspx

Excellent! Works fine and is just what I was looking for. Many thanks.

\M