NAME

     tsql — utility to test FreeTDS connections and queries

SYNOPSIS

     tsql {-S servername [-I interface] | -H hostname [-L] [-p port]} [-D dbname] [-U username]
          [-P password] [-o options]
     tsql -C

DESCRIPTION

     tsql is a FreeTDS diagnostic tool. It uses the TDS protocol to connect to a Sybase or
     Microsoft SQL Server, and lets the user issue queries.  tsql does not use the FreeTDS client
     libraries. Instead, it uses only the lowest level library, libtds, to test the protocol
     implementation.

     tsql can be run in two ways, one which uses the freetds.conf and one which connects directly
     using the server's hostname and port.  The -H and -p parameters are provided to let the user
     verify a server is listening on the named host and port. These parameters override any
     configuration files and environment variables.  The -S parameter can be used to test the
     local configuration. FreeTDS will use freetds.conf (or equivalent) and environment variables
     in the normal way to determine the server's IP address and port. You can use -I to specify a
     filename, overriding FreeTDS's configuration file search algorithm.

OPTIONS

     -S servername
             database server to which to connect.

     -D dbname
             database to use.

     -I interface
             freetds.conf or interfaces file describing servername.

     -H hostname
             DNS hostname of the server.

     -p port
             port at which SQL Server is listening.

     -U username
             database login name. If username is not provided, a domain login is attempted for
             TDS 7+ connections.

     -P password
             database password.

     -L      list Microsoft server instances (with -H).

     -C      print some of the compile-time configuration parameters.

     -o options
             apply the options specified to every command.

             -f      No footer [result count]

             -h      No header [titles]

             -t      Print time

             -v      Print version

             -q      Quiet

     -a appname
             application name.

     -t colterm
             column terminator.

     -r rowterm
             row terminator.

     -r rowterm
             row terminator.

     -J charset
             character set.

     -v      verbose mode.

NOTES

     If you can connect with ‘tsql -S servername’, your basic FreeTDS installation is working.

     Typing ‘exit’, ‘quit’, or ‘bye’ (or ^D) exits tsql.

     Typing ‘version’ displays the TDS protocol version.

     Command batches may be separated with ‘go’ or ‘GO’.  If ‘GO’ the version string is reported
     before executing the batch.

     After prompting for the password (if not provided with -P), tsql will attempt to connect to
     the remote server.  tsql displays a counter indicating the number of seconds elapsed during
     the connection attempt. Typically, tsql immediately responds with a ‘1>’ prompt. If you see
     the counter (1, 2, 3, ...), most likely tsql is unable to connect to the indicated server.

     tsql is not a replacement for a complete isql such as sqsh (www.sqsh.org).  If you have
     suggestions for ways to make tsql more useful as a diagnostic tool, please post them to the
     FreeTDS mailing list for consideration.

HISTORY

     tsql first appeared in FreeTDS 0.60.

AUTHORS

     The tsql utility was written by Brian Bruns.

BUGS

     Several, to be sure, now that it's documented. :)