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export a complex query into a file

I have a long and complex query that needs to be exported to a data file. The problem is that the user needs to supply 1 Parameter to the query for it to process the required data.

When I try to bcp it from within a Stored Procedure in which the Parameter is passed, I get an error that the query is too long.

Any ideas of another way to supply the Parameter, run the query, and then export the data?

curtis591

I am not sure if this will work or not, but what if you execute the query so that it puts the results into a temporary table and then do a select * from #temptable in the bcp.

Baldrita

Use VBScript to write the SQL to a file. Here is an example:

declare @cmd sysname, @mfn sysname
SET @cmd = 'SELECT * FROM PUBS' -- Build query with parm.
SET @mfn = '"C:\MyFileName.sql"' -- My File Name
EXEC @cmd -- Execute query
EXEC master..xp_cmdshell 'cscript C:\WriteSQL.vbs ' + @mfn + ' "' + @cmd + '"' -- Write query string to MyFileName

C:\WriteSQL.vbs (contents below)
Const ForReading = 1, ForWriting = 2, ForAppending = 8
Set m_objWshShell = Wscript.CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
'// Create a FileSystemObject object
Set m_objFileSystem = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
'// Open output file, forcing creation if it doesn't already exist.
Set m_objFile = m_objFileSystem.OpenTextFile(WScript.Arguments.Item(0), ForAppending, True, 0)
m_objFile.WriteLine (WScript.Arguments.Item(1))

The SQL server needs to be able to run VBScript files. Windows 2000 does this or NT with WSH (Windows Scripting Host) install does it also. Hope this helps.

Todd A. Baldridge

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miron

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DLockwood

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miron,

Excellent suggestion. Works beautifully.

DLockwood