Command Prompt Utilities

The following table contains a list of command prompt utilities that ship with Microsoft SQL Server.

Utility

Description

Installed in

bcp Utility

Used to copy data between an instance of Microsoft SQL Server and a data file in a user-specified format.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn

dta Utility

Used to analyze a workload and recommend physical design structures to optimize server performance for that workload.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn

dtexec Utility (SSIS Tool)

Used to configure and execute an Integration Services package. A user interface version of this command prompt utility is called DTExecUI, which brings up the Execute Package Utility.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn

dtutil Utility (SSIS Tool)

Used to manage SSIS packages.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn

Deployment Utility (Analysis Services - Multidimensional Data)

Used to deploy Analysis Services projects to instances of Analysis Services.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\VShell\Common7\IDE

osql Utility

Allows you to enter Transact-SQL statements, system procedures, and script files at the command prompt.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn

Profiler Utility

Used to start SQL Server Profiler from a command prompt.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn

rs Utility

Used to run scripts designed for managing Reporting Services report servers.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn

rsconfig Utility

Used to configure a report server connection.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn

rskeymgmt Utility

Used to manage encryption keys on a report server.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn

sqlagent90 Application

Used to start SQL Server Agent from a command prompt.

x:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\<instance_name>\MSSQL\Binn

sqlcmd Utility

Allows you to enter Transact-SQL statements, system procedures, and script files at the command prompt.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn

SQLdiag Utility

Used to collect diagnostic information for Microsoft Customer Service and Support.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn

sqllogship Application

Used by applications to perform backup, copy, and restore operations and associated clean-up tasks for a log shipping configuration without running the backup, copy, and restore jobs.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn

sqlmaint Utility

Used to execute database maintenance plans created in previous versions of SQL Server.

x:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn

sqlps Utility

Used to run PowerShell commands and scripts. Loads and registers the SQL Server PowerShell provider and cmdlets.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn

sqlservr Application

Used to start and stop an instance of Database Engine from the command prompt for troubleshooting.

x:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn

Ssms Utility

Used to start SQL Server Management Studio from a command prompt.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\VSShell\Common7\IDE

tablediff Utility

Used to compare the data in two tables for non-convergence, which is useful when troubleshooting a replication topology.

<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\COM

Command Prompt Utilities Syntax Conventions

Convention

Used for

UPPERCASE

Statements and terms used at the operating system level.

monospace

Sample commands and program code.

italic

User-supplied parameters.

bold

Commands, parameters, and other syntax that must be typed exactly as shown.