sqlcmd doesn't run from .bat file, but it does work from a command line

Question

I am trying to run a simple batch file that calls a backup script I have in SQL Server. When I enter this into a command line, it works but when run from a .bat file, nothing happens. No errors, no output at all.

sqlcmd.exe -S WIN-FPQSHCEB0EM -E -Q "EXEC sp_BackupDatabases @backupLocation='E:\Backups\', @databaseName=’xxxxxx’, @backupType='F'"
PAUSE

• I've tried it with and without the server name (-S)
• I've explicitly set a path, to no affect.
• When executing sqlcmd, I've used the entire path.

Any idea why this wouldn't work?

Answer 1

I know this is an old question, but it happened to me recently!

Its because of the quote marks in your SQL... I couldn't find a method to escape them, so I resorted to using a script file.. Put your SQL into the script file, then use the "-i " to run that, instead of inline SQL...