Presents your 
SQL SERVER E-NEWSLETTER for March 11, 2003

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START A SQL AGENT JOB USING T-SQL

The system-stored procedure sp_start_job is the mechanism to start a SQL
Agent job using T-SQL. This procedure will start the job and return
control back to the user without waiting until the job is completed.

A return value of zero indicates that sp_start_job has successfully
started the procedure, while a return value of one indicates the opposite.
One reason failure can occur is because the SQL Agent service is not running.

The sp_start_job system-stored procedure has six input parameters:


* @job_name--This is the name of the job in SQL Agent.

* @job_id--This is the identification number of the SQL Agent job.

* @error_flag--This is a reserved parameter.

* @server_name--This is the target server on which to start the job.

* @step_name--This is the job step name on which the job should be
started. This also applies to jobs that are on the local server.

* @output_flag--This is a reserved parameter.


The system-stored procedure requires either the @job_name or @job_id
parameter, but not both parameters. The rest of the parameters are optional.
This procedure is available to any user within the database.

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