How to: Execute DOS commands from T-SQL

Sometimes you might have the need to execute a copy, delete or run a batch file from a stored procedure. This can be done by using the xp_cmdshell and execute your command line.

This can be done as below

EXECUTE master..xp_cmdshell 'copy c:\test.txt c:\test1.txt'

You can run it using parameters as below

DECLARE @sql VARCHAR(200)
SET @sql = 'copy c:\test.txt c:\test1.txt'
EXECUTE master..xp_cmdshell @sql

If you are running the xp_cmdshell and get the error "SQL Server blocked access to procedure 'sys.xp_cmdshell' of component 'xp_cmdshell' because this component is turned off as part of the security configuration for this server." Follow the code below to enable the feature.

EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1;
GO
RECONFIGURE;
GO
EXEC sp_configure 'xp_cmdshell', 1;
GO
RECONFIGURE;
GO

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