How to Generate Stored Procedure Script File in SQL Server?

In this SQL Server tutorial, you will learn how to generate stored procedure script file in SQL Server.

You will understand about this script file and its benefits. Then, you will understand the syntax for the generated script file using the command line in sql server.

In the end, you will use the SQL Server Management Studio to generate a stored procedure script file.

Generate Stored Procedure Script File in SQL Server

The script contains an SQL code that is used to perform a specific task. If you have a stored procedure in the database, you can create or generate a script file of that stored procedure.

There are several benefits of creating stored procedure script files in SQL Server.

  • You can use the script for code reusability, which means using the same script for different projects and applications; in this case, it reduces the duplication of the code.
  • You can use the script as documentation where a developer can see the stored procedure logic, defined parameters, etc. Using this information, if developers want to modify or make changes to the stored procedure, they can do that too.
  • If you want to test the stored procedure, you can do that in isolation or in a separate environment. Also, it allows you to debug the stored procedure more effectively in a separate domain.
  • Help in collaboration where you can share the script file with your team members for reviewing, modifying, and testing the stored procedure.

Well, you know how beneficial it is to generate a script file of stored procedures. Let’s begin,

Generate Stored Procedure Script File in SQL Server Using Command Line

First, I will show you how to generate the script file of any stored procedure in your database using the query.

To create the script file of the stored procedure, use the below syntax.

sqlcmd -S Server_InstanceName -d DatabaseName -E [-U username -P password]  -Q "EXE sp_helptext 'Stored_ProcedureName' -o "path\file.sql";

Where,

  • sqlcmd: It is a command that allows you to connect to an SQL Server instance.
  • -S Server_InstanceName: Name of the SQL Server instance to which you want to connect.
  • -d DatabaseName: Name of the database to which you want to connect and where your stored procedure exists.
  • -E: It represents the Windows authentication method to connect to SQL Server.
  • [-U username -P password]: If you want to connect with SQL Server authentication, use this option instead of (-E) where -U for username and –P for password.
  • Q “EXE sp_helptext ‘Stored_ProcedureName’: It means to execute the sp_helptext stored procedure to generate the script of the specified stored procedure (Your_Stored_ProcedureName).
  • -o “path\file.sql”: Save the generated script to a file called file.sql at the specified path. You can give any file name and your desired path where the script file will be saved. Always make sure that where you are saving the file, you have written permission.

First, let’s view all the existing stored procedures in our database. Open the command prompt or the query editor of SSMS.

Run the below query to view all the stored procedures in the current database.

USE E_commerce;
SELECT name FROM sys.procedures;
GO
Generate Stored Procedure Script File in SQL Server Using Command Line View All Procedure

As you can see, the E_commerce database has 5 stored procedures: GetOrdersByDate, GetTotalOrders, InsertUser, UpdatePriceStock, and UpdateTableData.

Now, you want to generate a script file of InsertUser stored procedure, open the new command prompt, and type the below command.

SQLCMD -S MSI\SQLEXPRESS -d E_commerce -E -Q "EXEC sp_helptext 'InsertUser'" -o "C:\Users\saura\OneDrive\Desktop\StoredProcedure\InserUser.sql"
Generate Stored Procedure Script File in SQL Server Using Command Line

Let’s go to the location “C:\Users\saura\OneDrive\Desktop\StoredProcedure\” and check the generated script file named InserUser.sql.

Generated Stored Procedure Script File in SQL Server Using Command Line

As you can see in the above picture, the script file named InserUser.sql is generated at the specified location. Well, this is how you can generate stored procedure script file in SQL Server.

Now let’s see how to generate stored procedure script files in SQL Server using SSMS; for that, move to the next section.

Generate Stored Procedure Script File in SQL Server Using SSMS

You have learned how to generate stored procedure script using the command line tool SQLCMD in the previous section. Here, you are going to understand how to generate a stored procedure script file using SQL Server Management Studio.

Open the SSMS, expand the Databases node, and then expand the Stored Procedure folder within Programmability to view all the stored procedures as shown below.

Generate Stored Procedure Script File in SQL Server Using SSMS Viewing All Stored Procedures

After viewing the stored procedures in your database (E_commerce) such as you see in the above picture.

Right-click on the stored procedure, select the option Script Stored Procedure as> then select CREATE TO> choose the File option as shown in the below picture.

Generate Stored Procedure Script File in SQL Server Using SSMS Creating Script File

After that, the Save As dialog appears to choose the location and file name, so browser the location where you want to save the script file and give a meaningful name to your file, such as UpdatePriceStock as shown in the picture below.

Generate Stored Procedure Script File in SQL Server Using SSMS

After providing the name of the script file, click on the Save button to save or generate the stored procedure script file.

Then go to a location and check the generated UpdatePriceStock.sql script file.

Generated Stored Procedure Script File in SQL Server Using SSMS

Look at the above picture, which is the generated script file of the UpdatePriceStock stored procedure. This is how to generate stored procedure script file, in SQL Server using the SQL Server Management Studio.

Conclusion

In this SQL Server tutorial, you learned how to generate a stored procedure script file in sql server using the command line utility SQLCMD and SQL Server Management Studio. Also learned with examples how you can benefit from the stored procedure script file.

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