Why backup sql server query is not working without variable?

Question

it is working......

declare @dbName varchar(50)
set @dbName='myDb'
    BACKUP DATABASE @dbName TO DISK = 'c:\backup\myDb.bak'

But Why is it not working? where as both are similar query.

 BACKUP DATABASE 'mydb' TO DISK = 'c:\backup\myDb.bak'

Andomar · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-24 11:31:26Z

3

BACKUP DATABASE { database_name | @database_name_var } 
    TO <backup_device> [ ,...n ]

So it takes a database name (f.e. mydb) or a variable (f.e. @dbname.) But not a string literal (f.e. 'mydb'.)

Just omit the quotes to change the string literal to a database name:

BACKUP DATABASE mydb TO DISK = 'c:\backup\myDb.bak'

answered Aug 24, 2012 at 11:31

Andomar

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