Can't connect to SQL enterprise manager? Are you having problems connecting to SQL Enterprise Manager (SEM) to retrieve the job status for a particular job, even though you can connect using Query Analyzer? As you will see, there are some very useful procedures for capturing the job status, along with informative messages pertaining to it. The main procedure, sp_help_jobhistory, found in the msdb database, provides the job status results. The parameter that returns the informational messages is @mode; set it to Full. The following is a simple script that finds the job history status. For this script to work properly, you will need to set up a job named "Backup System databases" and name the first job step "Backup master." In order for sp_help_jobhistory to have anything to report, the job must have been previously executed; otherwise, no history will exist. -- You don't know the job name, so get thee job name through this procedure. exec msdb..sp_help_job -- Use the job name with this procedure too get the required step name. exec msdb..sp_help_jobstep @job_name = 'Backup System databases' -- Now use the step name to get to the command to verify the correct step. exec msdb..sp_help_jobstep @job_name = 'Backup System databases' , @step_name = 'Backup master.' -- Find the status of exec msdb..sp_help_jobhistory @job_name = 'Backup System databases' , @step_id = 1, @step_name = 'Backup master.', @mode = 'full' /* Description of status from output of msdb..sp_help_jobhistory Value Description 0 Failed 1 Succeeded 2 Retry (step only) 3 Canceled 4 In-progress message 5 Unknown */ ----------------------------------------