Stored Procedure checking for File existance

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Thanks,
Anthony

I usually do it via a dir command but you could also use the file system object.

create procedure spCheck
@filename varchar(128) ,
@fileexists int output
as

select @fileexists = 0
create table #a (s varchar(1000))
declare @sql varchar(1000)
select @sql = 'dir c:\dir\*.*'
insert #a exec xp_cmdshell @sql
if exists (select * from #a where s like '%' + @filename + '%'
select @fileexists = 1

go

You will need permission on the directory for the user context under which xp_cmdshell runs on your system - probably the sql server service.

an extended stored procedure xp_fileexist migth be of help.

execute master.dbo.xp_fileexist 'C:\boot.ini'

output

[File Exists] 1 -- integer
[File is a Directory] 0 --integer
[Parent Directory Exists] 1 --integer

>>it would not be located on the same server as SQL
This said, the stored proc can only see local drives to the SQL Server, for drives on other PC it would be an UNC path (\\workstation\C$\), for which the (admin) permissions need to be given
CHeers

WHat kind of security do I need to setup. I have a server called MAserver which is connected to my machine. However when I do a
execute master.dbo.xp_fileexist '\\maserver\cdrive\config.sys'

it gives me 0,0,0 in all three fields. that file does exist. and I am logged on using query analyzer as sa. plus xp_fileexist is set for public access.
Ofcourse, this procedure will probably be run on individual sql accounts.

Looks like stored procedure is working, it returned zeros, indicative that it was un-able to see the share.

I would verify account running sql server, it need to be domain account, not a local to the machine running sql server, also this account need to have "full control" privilege granted to access the share, where file was checked.

Cheers

I am not sure how you can set security setting in Windows for SQL users only. For example, I have a SQL user called joe with password joeb and when the user logs on, the sql connection is made with his username and password.

rian:
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