Problems with single quote character iwhen attempting to export data

Dear you can use the replace command

check the code below

replace(column name,'''','')

EXEC xp_cmdshell 'bcp "SELECT 
            '1', 
            isnull(left(replace(DISTRICT,'''',''),1),' '),
            isnull(left(replace(CTV,'''',''),2),'  '),,
            isnull(left(replace(CTV2,'''','')),'     ')            
FROM [CensusData].[dbo].[MainQuestionnaire$]" queryout "C:\bcptest.txt" -T -c -t -S "MYSERVER"' 

Select allOpen in new window

From the documentation:

---
command_string cannot contain more than one set of double quotation marks. A single pair of quotation marks is necessary if any spaces are present in the file paths or program names referenced by command_string. If you have trouble with embedded spaces, consider using FAT 8.3 file names as a workaround
---

So the problem seems to be your double quotation marks, not the single ones!

Try this:

EXEC xp_cmdshell 'bcp "SELECT
            '1',
            isnull(left(DISTRICT,1),' '),
            isnull(left(CTV,2),'  '),
            isnull(left(CTV2,5),'     ')            
FROM [CensusData].[dbo].[MainQuestionnaire$]" queryout C:\bcptest.txt -T -c -t -S MYSERVER'


Please note this suggestion is just a guess and untested :-) But it should give you a clue where to look...

Good luck!

AmmarR:

I get this error when I attempt your solution:
Msg 102, Level 15, State 1, Line 2
Incorrect syntax near '),
            isnull(left(replace(CTV,'','),2),'.

Khun:

Your give the error:
Msg 102, Level 15, State 1, Line 2
Incorrect syntax near '1'.
Which seems to refute your assertion that the double quotes is the problem.

there were 2 commas at the end of the line

try this now

EXEC xp_cmdshell 'bcp "SELECT 
            '1', 
            isnull(left(replace(DISTRICT,'''',''),1),' '),
            isnull(left(replace(CTV,'''',''),2),'  '),
            isnull(left(replace(CTV2,'''','')),'     ')            
FROM [CensusData].[dbo].[MainQuestionnaire$]" queryout "C:\bcptest.txt" -T -c -t -S "MYSERVER"' 

Select allOpen in new window

I would start with going to a cmd-shell and try typing (or rather put it into a bat-file so you don't have to retype if it doesn't work):

bcp "SELECT
            '1',
            isnull(left(DISTRICT,1),' '),
            isnull(left(CTV,2),'  '),
            isnull(left(CTV2,5),'     ')            
FROM [CensusData].[dbo].[MainQuestionnaire$]" queryout "C:\bcptest.txt" -T -c -t -S "MYSERVER"

to check that works. Then:

bcp "SELECT
            '1',
            isnull(left(DISTRICT,1),' '),
            isnull(left(CTV,2),'  '),
            isnull(left(CTV2,5),'     ')            
FROM [CensusData].[dbo].[MainQuestionnaire$]" queryout C:\bcptest.txt -T -c -t -S MYSERVER

Should help you detect what the problem really is...

AmmarR;
Same error.

khun:
Have a look at the attached image.
errors.bmp

You need to have it all on on line. I should have mentioned that, of course, sorry. Right now you sent one command:

bcp "SELECT

which triggered the explanation of the bcp command. Then you sent another command:

'1',

which was sort of difficult to understand :-) Etc. etc.

Put this into a text file you call TestSQL.bat:

bcp "SELECT '1', isnull(left(DISTRICT,1),' '), isnull(left(CTV,2),'  '), isnull(left(CTV2,5),'     ') FROM [CensusData].[dbo].[MainQuestionnaire$]" queryout "C:\bcptest.txt" -T -c -t -S "MYSERVER"

Then just write TestSQL.bat at the command prompt. Then try the same with:

bcp "SELECT '1', isnull(left(DISTRICT,1),' '), isnull(left(CTV,2),'  '), isnull(left(CTV2,5),'     ') FROM [CensusData].[dbo].[MainQuestionnaire$]" queryout C:\bcptest.txt -T -c -t -S MYSERVER

khun,

Tried that and for some strange reason the server seems to be inaccessible when I run the batch file.

I can't figure it out because it runs well from sql server management studio.

I got the answer on another forum.