Command Prompt : PAUSE keyword usage in BATCH file and Redirect output to File.

When we create batch file to execute SQL Commands using sqlcmd utility (or) to execute SSIS packages using DTEXEC utility, we knew that once the execution is over, black screen (CMD prompt screen) will flash off within a sec.

We often more interested in seeing the output status of the execution(successful or failed because of any reasons) once it is done.

All we need to achieve the same is by using the PAUSE keyword at last in the batch file.

PAUSE keyword ensures control gets back to the user by prompting a message
"Press any key to continue . . ." .
In this case after user hits any key in the keyboard only CMD prompt will goes off.

1)using SQLCMD

sqlcmd ....................
PAUSE

(or)

2)using DTEXEC

DTEXEC
PAUSE

Note: PAUSE keword is case insensitive.

3) Create or OverWrite

If you want to redirect the output status to any file, you can use > (Greater than) operator followed by filepath with filename.


sqlcmd .................................. > "C:\Users\TEST\output.txt"
PAUSE

Note: File will be created if not exists. File content will be overriden if file with the same name already exists.

4) Append
If you want to append use >> operator.



sqlcmd .................................. >> "C:\Users\TEST\output.txt"
PAUSE