sqlps Utility

-NoLogo

Specifies that the sqlps utility hide the copyright banner when it starts.

-NoExit

Specifies that the sqlps utility continue running after the startup commands have completed.

-NoProfile

Specifies that the sqlps utility not load a user profile. User profiles record commonly used aliases, functions, and variables for use across PowerShell sessions.

-OutPutFormat { Text | XML }

Specifies that the sqlps utility output be formatted as either text strings (Text) or in a serialized CLIXML format (XML).

-InPutFormat { Text | XML }

Specifies that input to the sqlps utility is formatted as either text strings (Text) or in a serialized CLIXML format (XML).

-Command

Specifies the command for the sqlps utility to run. The sqlps utility runs the command and then exits, unless -NoExit is also specified. Do not specify any other switches after -Command, they will be read as command parameters.

-

-Command - specifies that the sqlps utility read the input from the standard input.

script_block [ -argsargument_array ]

Specifies a block of PowerShell commands to run, the block must be enclosed in braces: {}. Script_block can only be specified when the sqlps utility is called from either PowerShell or another sqlps utility session. The argument_array is an array of PowerShell variables containing the arguments for the PowerShell commands in the script_block.

string [ command_parameters ]

Specifies a string that contains the PowerShell commands to be run. Use the format "&{command}". The quotation marks indicate a string, and the invoke operator (&) causes the sqlps utility to run the command.

[ -? | -Help ]

Shows the syntax summary of the sqlps utility options.

The sqlps utility starts the PowerShell environment (PowerShell.exe) and loads the SQL Server PowerShell module. The module, also named sqlps, loads and registers these SQL Server PowerShell snap-ins:

• Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.PSProvider.dll

  Implements the SQL Server PowerShell provider and associated cmdlets such as Encode-SqlName and Decode-SqlName.

• Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.PSSnapin.dll

  Implements the Invoke-Sqlcmd and Invoke-PolicyEvaluation cmdlets.

You can use the sqlps utility to do the following:

• Interactively run PowerShell commands.

• Run PowerShell script files.

• Run SQL Server cmdlets.

• Use the SQL Server provider paths to navigate through the hierarchy of SQL Server objects.

By default, the sqlps utility runs with the scripting execution policy set to Restricted. This prevents running any PowerShell scripts. You can use the Set-ExecutionPolicy cmdlet to enable running signed scripts, or any scripts. Only run scripts from trusted sources, and secure all input and output files by using the appropriate NTFS permissions. For more information about enabling PowerShell scripts, see Running Windows PowerShell Scripts.

The version of the sqlps utility in SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 was implemented as a Windows PowerShell 1.0 mini-shell. Mini-shells have certain restrictions, such as not allowing users to load snap-ins other than those loaded by the mini-shell. These restrictions do not apply to the SQL Server 2012 version of the utility, which has been changed to use the sqlps module.

A. Run the sqlps utility in default, interactive mode without the copyright banner

sqlps -NoLogo

B. Run a SQL Server PowerShell script from the command prompt

sqlps -Command "&{.\MyFolder.MyScript.ps1}"

C. Run a SQL Server PowerShell script from the command prompt, and keep running after the script completes

sqlps -NoExit -Command "&{.\MyFolder.MyScript.ps1}"

Concepts