asked on

check for a file existense master..xp_cmdshell 'dir

Hi there,
I'm wondering whats the syntax to execute the following sql statement?

declare @i as integer
 exec @i = master..xp_cmdshell 'dir \"E:\Adept Technologies\Documents\Building\B07-100001\B07-100001_Expired*.doc\" /b'
 if @i <> null
 begin
 print 'File does exist'
 end
 else
 begin
 print 'file does not exist'
  end

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What I'm trying to do is to see if a file exist in a certain directory, the things that I have encounter if the directory has a space the statement doesn't return a true value.
I need create the directory path dynamically, what I mean is to search on a directory that looks like this
E:\Adept Technologies\Documents\Building\ + NumberKey +'/' + 'Filename' How can I achieved this?
Thanks!

lcohan

You can try something like in the code below and all needed is to check you test condition to decide if file exists or not:

declare @sqlstr nvarchar(max)
declare @i table (col1 varchar(max) null)
declare @NumberKey sysname
set @NumberKey = 'B07-100001'

--set @sqlstr = N'exec master..xp_cmdshell ''dir \"E:\Adept Technologies\Documents\Building\B07-100001\B07-100001_Expired*.doc\" /b'''

--with dynamic path
set @sqlstr = N'exec master..xp_cmdshell ''dir \"E:\Adept Technologies\Documents\Building\'+@NumberKey+'\'+@NumberKey+'_Expired*.doc\" /b'''

print (@sqlstr);

insert @i execute sp_executesql @sqlstr

select * from @I

Denis Orozco

ASKER

Icohan,
when I execute the suggested syntax I get this:

Col1
The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.
NULL

lcohan

That means the file does not exists right?

I put the
print (@sqlstr);
command as well so you should be able to take that DIR command and run it ON that SQL Server to see what you get. If you get the same message...you get the idea.

Denis Orozco

ASKER

nope the file does exist

lcohan

K - you had an extra \ in front of the DIR - please try below:

declare @sqlstr nvarchar(max)
declare @i table (col1 varchar(max) null)
declare @NumberKey sysname
set @NumberKey = 'B07-100001'

--set @sqlstr = N'exec master..xp_cmdshell ''dir \"E:\Adept Technologies\Documents\Building\B07-100001\B07-100001_Expired*.doc\" /b'''

--with dynamic path
set @sqlstr = N'exec master..xp_cmdshell ''dir "E:\Adept Technologies\Documents\Building\'+@NumberKey+'\'+@NumberKey+'_Expired*.doc\*.*" /b'''

print (@sqlstr);

insert @i execute sp_executesql @sqlstr

select * from @i

lcohan

so if the file does not exists the SQL code obviously returns the truth - right? Or does what you need in other words.

To test the opposite when the file exists just create some empty file with that Filename pattern on that SQL Server in that path and run the script again.

Denis Orozco

ASKER

ok, I just have to modify the dynamic part a bit to match what I need.
it looks like this now:
--with dynamic path
set @sqlstr = N'exec master..xp_cmdshell ''dir "E:\Adept Technologies\Documents\Building\'+@NumberKey+'\'+@NumberKey+'_Expired*.doc" /b'''

the only thing I need to return is true or false not the file name or anything else. Right now it returns two rows:
col1
B07-100001_Expired150_20071022.doc
NULL

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

lcohan

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