Conditional backup of SQL Database in Release Management

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The default “Backup SQL Database” in RM uses sqlcmd.exe (https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms162773.aspx) and the following arguments:

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Which works fine if there is a DB to backup. Sometimes you want RM to be able to do the deployment of a clean machine with no database created, This will cause the Backup SQL Database to fail during the first deployment.

To overcome this you can create your own Action based on the sqlcmd by replacing the command:
“BACKUP DATABASE [__DatabaseName__] TO DISK = N’__Path__’”

with this sql:

“IF EXISTS (SELECT * FROM [master].dbo.sysdatabases WHERE name = '[__DatabaseName__]') BACKUP DATABASE [__DatabaseName__] TO DISK = N'__Path__' “

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Doing a release with these configuration variables and not existing database

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Results in status “Succeeded” and not text in the log

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With the database created we get succeeded and the backup is performed:

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