xp_cmdshell

Question

xp_cmdshell

ngancp

SSC Rookie

Points: 37
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November 25, 2002 at 11:39 pm

#105380

I wanted to execute a .exe file develop in VB. I have no problem executing the exe file from the commandline. But when I use xp_cmdshell to execute, it does not seems to work. it does not return me with an error. It just output as NULL. Why?

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Prakash Heda SSCertifiable Points: 5539 More actions · Answer 1

VB return an msgbox to raise error right and there uis no way a message box is shown at xp_cmdshell. but on that machine you will see that messagebox. You can check in vb if it's fired through commandline and then return the error code.

I have done this a long before but forget which is the function name to return error.

Cheers,

Prakash

Prakash Heda
Lead DBA Team - www.sqlfeatures.com
Video sessions on Performance Tuning and SQL 2012 HA

Simon Sabin SSCrazy Eights Points: 8142 More actions · Answer 2

Further more you can't return messages to stdout from VB so the output will always be NULL

You can get a return code from VB that maps to the ERRORLEVEL in DOS which then maps to the return value of xp_cmdshell. You have to use an API call to ExitProcess.

Simon Sabin

Co-author of SQL Server 2000 XML Distilled

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1904347088

Simon Sabin
SQL Server MVP

http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons

Antares686 SSC Guru Points: 125444 More actions · Answer 3

Simon that is right and not right. VB can write to stdout but it will not process in a Command Prompt window by the way the handles work. However, there is a hack out on http://www.expert-exchange.com if you search stdout and vb or visual basic that I saw awhile back that can help with this, I never played with. Otherwise it is not really thread safe. May be better to find someone willing to convert to an Exteneded SP if not to difficult in C++.

Antares686 SSC Guru Points: 125444 More actions · Answer 4

Or you can use VBS script file to do the work. You may have to make a few code change but in vbscript you can write to the stdout quite easy liek so

Ex.

Create a fiole "test.vbs"

with this as the only line.

WScript.StdOut.Write "Hello"

and save.

Then execute like so

cscript.exe //NoLogo drive:\path\test.vbs

Note: //NoLogo is need or you will get the MS header like so

Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.6

in you output.

Edited by - antares686 on 11/26/2002 05:25:21 AM

Simon Sabin SSCrazy Eights Points: 8142 More actions · Answer 5

Ok you can do it with one helluv a hack http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Programming_Languages/Visual_Basic/Q_20169020.html

Simon Sabin

Co-author of SQL Server 2000 XML Distilled

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1904347088

Simon Sabin
SQL Server MVP

http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons

Antares686 SSC Guru Points: 125444 More actions · Answer 6

Never said it was easy, just that it could be done.

tcartwright SSCertifiable Points: 5573 More actions · Answer 7

Also take a look at:

How to Write CGI Applications in Visual Basic

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;239588&

Tim C.

//Will write code for food

Tim C //Will code for food