sp_start_job (T-SQL)

Instructs SQL Server Agent to execute a job immediately.

Syntax

sp_start_job [@job_name =] 'job_name' | [@job_id =] job_id
    [,[@error_flag =] error_flag]
    [,[@server_name =] 'server_name']
    [,[@step_name =] 'step_name']
    [,[@output_flag =] output_flag]

Arguments

[@job_name =] 'job_name'

Is the name of the job to start. Either job_id or job_name must be specified, but both cannot be specified. job_name is sysname, with a default of NULL.

[@job_id =] job_id

Is the identification number of the job to start. Either job_id or job_name must be specified, but both cannot be specified. job_id is uniqueidentifier, with a default of NULL.

[@error_flag =] error_flag

Reserved.

[@server_name =] 'server_name'

Is the target server on which to start the job. server_name is nvarchar(30), with a default of NULL. server_name must be one of the target servers to which the job is currently targeted.

[@step_name =] 'step_name'

Is the name of the step at which to begin execution of the job. Applies only to local jobs. step_name is sysname, with a default of NULL

[@output_flag =] output_flag

Reserved.

Return Code Values

0 (success) or 1 (failure)

Result Sets

None

Permissions

Execute permissions default to the public role.

Examples

This example starts a job named Nightly Backup.

USE msdb

EXEC sp_start_job @job_name = 'Nightly Backup'

See Also