Command-line overview

The name of the Data Protection for SQL Server command-line interface is tdpsqlc.exe. This program is in the directory where Data Protection for SQL Server is installed.

Command-line parameter characteristics

The tdpsqlc executable is followed by high level operations called commands. Each command accepts various command line parameters. These parameters consist of positional parameters and optional parameters. Specify positional parameters before other options in the command line. In the following example, the backupcommand with its database name xyz, the object to back up, is followed by the type of backup, full, a positional parameter, and finally by an optional parameter, /sqlbuffers
tdpsqlc backup xyz full /sqlbuffers=2
Data Protection for SQL Server uses the following command line syntax:
tdpsqlc command positional parameter 0 or more optional parameters
The command-line parameters have the following characteristics:
  • Positional parameters do not include a leading slash (/) or dash (-).
  • Optional parameters can display in any order after the required parameters.
  • Optional parameters begin with a forward slash (/) or a dash (-).
  • Minimum abbreviations for keywords are indicated in uppercase text.
  • All SQL Server names of databases or parts of databases are case-sensitive.
  • Some keyword parameters require a value.
  • For those keyword parameters that require a value, the value is separated from the keyword with an equal sign (=).
  • If a parameter requires more than one value after the equal sign, the values are separated with commas.
  • Each parameter is separated from the others by using spaces.
  • If a parameter value includes spaces, the value must be enclosed in double quotation marks.
  • A positional parameter can display only once per command invocation.
    • The following exceptions allow lists of values or repetition of the parameter:
      • FIle=
      • Group=
      • Log=
      • Set=
      • /FIles=
      • /GRoups=
      • /RELocate=
      • /RELOCATEDir=
      • /TO=
      For example: /files=a,b or /files=a /files=b

      Multiple instances of optional parameters do not need to be contiguous. For example: /files=a /groups=y /files=b /groups=z

    Where repeatable syntax exists, multiple values are separated with commas as shown in the following syntax diagram:
    Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagram
                          .-,------.     
                          V        |     
    >>-TDPSQLC--Backup--+---dbname-+-+-----------------------------><
                        '-*----------'   
    
    
    To select all instances of database names or file names on the server, follow the command with the wildcard asterisk (*).