Using variables in SQLCMD for Linux - sql-server

Question

I'm running the Microsoft SQLCMD tool for Linux (CTP 11.0.1720.0) on a Linux box (Red Hat Enterprise Server 5.3 tikanga) with Korn shell. The tool is properly configured, and works in all cases except when using scripting variables.
I have an SQL script, that looks like this.
SELECT COLUMN1 FROM TABLE WHERE COLUMN2 = '$(param1)';
And I'm running the sqlcmd command like this.
sqlcmd -S server -d database -U user -P pass -i input.sql -v param1="DUMMYVALUE"
When I execute the above command, I get the following error.
Sqlcmd: 'param1=DUMMYVALUE': Invalid argument. Enter '-?' for help.
Help lists the below syntax.
[-v var = "value"...]
Am I missing something here?

Answer 1

You don't need to pass variables to sqlcmd. It auto picks from your shell variables:
e.g.
export param1=DUMMYVALUE
sqlcmd -S $host -U $user -P $pwd -d $db -i input.sql

Answer 2

In the RTP version (11.0.1790.0), the -v switch does not appear in the list of parameters when executing sqlcmd -?. Apparently this option isn't supported under the Linux version of the tool.
As far as I can tell, importing parameter values from environment variables doesn't work either.
If you need a workaround, one way would be to concatenate one or more :setvar statements with the text file containing the commands you want to run into a new file, then execute the new file. Based on your example:
echo :setvar param1 DUMMYVALUE > param_input.sql
cat input.sql >> param_input.sql
sqlcmd -S server -d database -U user -P pass -i param_input.sql

Answer 3

You can export the variable in linux. After that you won't need to pass the variable in sqlcmd. However, I did notice you will need to change your sql script and remove the :setvar command if it doesn't have a default value.
export dbName=xyz
sqlcmd -Uusername -Sservername -Ppassword -i script.sql
:setvar dbName --remove this line
USE [$(dbName)]
GO

Answer 4

I think you're just not quoting the input variables correctly. I created this bash script...
#!/bin/bash
# Create a sql file with a parameterized test script
echo "
set nocount on
select k = '-db', v = '\$(db)' union all
select k = '-schema', v = '\$(schema)' union all
select '-', 'static'
go" > ./test.sql
# capture input variables
DB=$1
SCHEMA="${2:-dbo}"
# Exec sqlcmd
sqlcmd -S 'localhost\lemur' -E -i ./test.sql -v "db=${DB}" -v "schema=${SCHEMA}"
... and tested it like so:
$ ./test.sh master
k v
------- ------
-db master
-schema dbo
- static