Executing the SSMA console (OracleToSQL)

Microsoft provides you with a robust set of script file commands to execute and control SSMA activities. The console application uses certain standard script file commands as enumerated in this section.

Project script file commands

The Project commands handle creating projects, opening, saving, and exiting projects.

`create-new-project` command

Creates a new SSMA project.

Script

project-folder: Indicates the folder of the project getting created.
project-name: Indicates the name of the project. {string}
overwrite-if-exists: Optional attribute. Indicates if an existing project should be overwritten. {boolean}
project-type: Optional attribute. Indicates the project type, that is, sql-server-2016, sql-server-2017, sql-server-2019, sql-server-2022, sql-server-2025, or sql-azure. The default is sql-server-2016.

Syntax example

<create-new-project
   project-folder="<project-folder>"   project-name="<project-name>"
   overwrite-if-exists="<true/false>"   (optional)
   project-type="<sql-server-2016 | sql-server-2017 | sql-server-2019 | sql-server-2022 | sql-server-2025 | sql-azure>"   (optional)
/>

Attribute overwrite-if-exists is false by default.

Attribute project-type is sql-server-2016 by default.

`open-project` command

Opens an existing project.

Script

project-folder indicates the folder of the project getting created. The command fails if the specified folder doesn't exist. {string}
project-name indicates the name of the project. The command fails if the specified project doesn't exist. {string}

Syntax example

<open-project
   project-folder="<project-folder>"
   project-name="<project-name>"
/>

SSMA for Oracle Console Application supports backward compatibility. You'll be able to open projects created by previous version of SSMA.

`save-project` command

Saves the migration project.

Syntax example

<save-project/>

`close-project` command

Closes the migration project.

Syntax example

<close-project
   if-modified="<save/error/ignore>"   (optional)
/>

Database Connection script file commands

The Database Connection commands help connect to the database.

The Browse feature of the UI isn't supported in console.

For more information, see Creating script files.

`connect-source-database` command

Performs connection to the source database and loads high level metadata of the source database but not all of the metadata.

If the connection to the source can't be established, an error is generated and the console application stops further execution.

Script

Server definition is retrieved from the name attribute defined for each connection in the server section of the server connection file or the script file.

Syntax example

<connect-source-database  server="<server-unique-name>"/>

`force-load-source/target-database` command

Loads the source metadata.

Useful for working on migration project offline.

If the connection to the source/target can't be established, an error is generated and the console application stops further execution.

Script

Requires one or several metabase nodes as command line parameter.

Syntax example

<force-load object-name="<object-name>"
  metabase="<source/target>"/>

Or:

<force-load>
   <metabase-object object-name="<object-name>"/>
</force-load>

`reconnect-source-database` command

Reconnects to the source database but doesn't load any metadata unlike the connect-source-database command.

If (re)connection with the source can't be established, an error is generated and the console application stops further execution.

Syntax example

<reconnect-source-database  server="<server-unique-name>"/>

`connect-target-database` command

Connects to the target SQL Server database and loads high level metadata of the target database but not the metadata entirely.

If the connection to the target can't be established, an error is generated and the console application stops further execution.

Script

Server definition is retrieved from the name attribute defined for each connection in the server section of the server connection file or the script file

Syntax example

<connect-target-database  server="<server-unique-name>"/>

`reconnect-target-database` command

Reconnects to the target database but doesn't load any metadata, unlike the connect-target-database command.

If (re)connection to the target can't be established, an error is generated and the console application stops further execution.

Syntax example

<reconnect-target-database  server="<server-unique-name>"/>

Report script file commands

The Report commands generate reports on the performance of various SSMA Console activities.

`generate-assessment-report` command

Generates assessment reports on the source database.

If the source database connection isn't performed before executing this command, an error is generated and the console application exits.

Failure to connect to the source database server during the command execution, also results in terminating the console application.

Script

conversion-report-folder: Specifies folder where the assessment report can be stored. (optional attribute)
object-name: Specifies the objects considered for assessment report generation (It can have individual object names or a group object name).
object-type: specifies the type of the object specified in the object-name attribute (if object category is specified then object type is "category").
conversion-report-overwrite: Specifies whether to overwrite the assessment report folder if it already exists.

Default value: false. (optional attribute)
write-summary-report-to: Specifies the path where the summary report is generated.

If only the folder path is mentioned, then file by name AssessmentReport<n>.xml is created. (optional attribute)

Report creation has two further subcategories:
- report-errors (="true/false", with default as "false" (optional attributes))
- verbose (="true/false", with default as "false" (optional attributes))

Syntax example

<generate-assessment-report
   object-name="<object-name>"
   object-type="<object-category>"
   write-summary-report-to="<file>"   (optional)
   verbose="<true/false>"   (optional)
   report-errors="<true/false>"   (optional)
   assessment-report-folder="<folder-name>"   (optional)
   conversion-report-overwrite="<true/false>"   (optional)

/>

Or:

<generate-assessment-report
   conversion-report-folder="<folder-name>"   (optional)
   conversion-report-overwrite="<true/false>"   (optional)
>
      <metabase-object object-name="<object-name>"
         object-type="<object-category>"/>
</generate-assessment-report>

Migration script file commands

The Migration commands convert the target database schema to the source schema and migrates data to the target server.

The default console output setting for the migration commands is 'Full' output report with no detailed error reporting: Only summary at the source object tree root node.

`convert-schema` command

Performs schema conversion from source to the target schema.

If the source or target database connection isn't performed before executing this command, or the connection to the source or target database server fails during the command execution, an error is generated and the console application exits.

Script

conversion-report-folder: Specifies folder where the assessment report can be stored. (optional attribute)
object-name: Specifies the source objects considered for converting schema (It can have individual object names or a group object name).
object-type: specifies the type of the object specified in the object-name attribute (if object category is specified then object type is "category").
conversion-report-overwrite: Specifies whether to overwrite the assessment report folder if it already exists.

Default value: false. (optional attribute)
write-summary-report-to: Specifies the path where the summary report is generated.

If only the folder path is mentioned, then file by name SchemaConversionReport<n>.xml is created. (optional attribute)

Report creation has two further subcategories:
- report-errors (="true/false", with default as "false" (optional attributes))
- verbose (="true/false", with default as "false" (optional attributes))

Syntax example

<convert-schema
   object-name="<object-name>"
   object-type="<object-category>"
   write-summary-report-to="<file-name/folder-name>"   (optional)
   verbose="<true/false>"   (optional)
   report-errors="<true/false>"   (optional)
   conversion-report-folder="<folder-name>"   (optional)
   conversion-report-overwrite="<true/false>"   (optional)
/>

Or:

<convert-schema
   conversion-report-folder="<folder-name>"   (optional)
   conversion-report-overwrite="<true/false>"   (optional)
      <metabase-object object-name="<object-name>"
         object-type="<object-category>"/>
</convert-schema>

`migrate-data` command

Migrates the source data to the target.

Script

conversion-report-folder: Specifies folder where the assessment report can be stored. (optional attribute)
object-name: Specifies the source objects considered for migrating data (It can have individual object names or a group object name).
object-type: specifies the type of the object specified in the object-name attribute (if object category is specified then object type is "category").
conversion-report-overwrite: Specifies whether to overwrite the assessment report folder if it already exists.

Default value: false. (optional attribute)
write-summary-report-to: Specifies the path where the summary report is generated.

If only the folder path is mentioned, then file by name DataMigrationReport<n>.xml is created. (optional attribute)

Report creation has two further subcategories:
- report-errors (="true/false", with default as "false" (optional attributes))
- verbose (="true/false", with default as "false" (optional attributes))

Syntax example

<migrate-data
   write-summary-report-to="<file-name/folder-name>"
   report-errors="<true/false>"
   verbose="<true/false>">
      <metabase-object object-name="<object-name>"/>
      <metabase-object object-name="<object-name>"/>
      <metabase-object object-name="<object-name>"/>
      <data-migration-connection
         source-use-last-used="true"/source-server="<server-unique-name>"
         target-use-last-used="true"/target-server="<server-unique-name>"/>
</migrate-data>

Or:

<migrate-data
   object-name="<object-name>"
   object-type="<object-category>"
   write-summary-report-to="<file-name/folder-name>"
   report-errors="<true/false>"
   verbose="<true/false>"/>

Migration Preparation script file commands

The Migration Preparation command initiates schema mapping between the source and target databases.

`map-schema` command

Schema mapping of source database to the target schema.

Migrates the source data to the target.

Script

source-schema specifies the source schema we intend to migrate.
sql-server-schema specifies the target schema where we want it to be migrated.

Syntax example

<map-schema
   source-schema="<source-schema>"
   sql-server-schema="<target-schema>"/>

Manageability script file commands

The Manageability commands help synchronize the target database objects with the source database. The default console output setting for the migration commands is 'Full' output report with no detailed error reporting: Only summary at the source object tree root node.

`synchronize-target` command

Synchronizes the target objects with the target database.

If this command is executed against the source database, an error is encountered.

If the target database connection isn't performed before executing this command, or the connection to the target database server fails during the command execution, an error is generated and the console application exits.

Script

object-name: Specifies the target objects considered for synchronizing with target database (It can have individual object names or a group object name).
object-type: specifies the type of the object specified in the object-name attribute (if object category is specified then object type is "category").
on-error: Specifies whether to specify synchronization errors as warnings or error. Available options for on-error:
- report-total-as-warning
- report-each-as-warning
- fail-script
report-errors-to: Specifies location of error report for the synchronization operation (optional attribute).

If only the folder path is given, then a file by the name of TargetSynchronizationReport.xml is created.

Syntax example

<synchronize-target
   object-name="<object-name>"
   on-error="<report-total-as-warning/
               report-each-as-warning/
               fail-script>"   (optional)
   report-errors-to="<file-name/folder-name>"   (optional)
/>

Or:

<synchronize-target
   object-name="<object-name>"
   object-type="<object-category>"/>

Or:

<synchronize-target>
   <metabase-object object-name="<object-name>"/>
   <metabase-object object-name="<object-name>"/>
   <metabase-object object-name="<object-name>"/>

</synchronize-target>

`refresh-from-database` command

Refreshes the source objects from database.
If this command is executed against the target database, an error is generated.

Script

Requires one or several metabase nodes as command line parameter.

object-name: Specifies the source objects considered for refreshing from source database (It can have individual object names or a group object name).
object-type: Specifies the type of the object specified in the object-name attribute (if object category is specified then object type is "category").
on-error: Specifies whether to specify refresh errors as warnings or error. Available options for on-error:
- report-total-as-warning
- report-each-as-warning
- fail-script
report-errors-to: Specifies location of error report for the synchronization operation (optional attribute)

If only the folder path is given, then a file by the name of SourceDBRefreshReport.xml is created.

Syntax example

<refresh-from-database
   object-name="<object-name>"
   on-error="<report-total-as-warning/
               report-each-as-warning/
               fail-script>"   (optional)
   report-errors-to="<file-name/folder-name>"   (optional)
/>

Or:

<refresh-from-database
   object-name="<object-name>"
   object-type="<object-category>"/>

Or:

<refresh-from-database>
   <metabase-object object-name="<object-name>"/>
</refresh-from-database>

Script Generation script file commands

The Script Generation commands perform dual tasks: They help save the console output in a script file; and record the T-SQL output to the console or a file based on the parameter you specify.

`save-as-script` command

Used to save the scripts of the objects to a file mentioned when metabase=target. This is an alternative to the synchronization command, in which we get the scripts and execute the same on the target database.

Script

Requires one or several metabase nodes as command line parameter.

object-name: Specifies the objects whose scripts are to be saved. (It can have individual object names or a group object name)
object-type: specifies the type of the object specified in the object-name attribute (if object category is specified then object type is "category").
metabase: Specifies whether it's the source or target metabase.
destination: Specifies the path or the folder where the script has to be saved, if the file name isn't given then a file name in the format (object_name attribute value).out
overwrite: if true then it overwrites if the same filename exists. It can have the values (true/false).

Syntax example

<save-as-script
   metabase="<source/target>"
   object-name="<object-name>"
   object-type="<object-category>"
   destination="<file/folder>"
   overwrite="<true/false>"   (optional)
/>

Or:

<save-as-script
   metabase="<source/target>"
   destination="<file/folder>"
      <metabase-object object-name="<object-name>"
         object-type="<object-category>"/>
</save-as-script>

`convert-sql-statement` command

context specifies the schema name.
destination specifies whether the output should be stored in a file.

If this attribute isn't specified, then the converted T-SQL statement is displayed on the console. (optional attribute)
conversion-report-folder specifies folder where the assessment report can be stored. (optional attribute)
conversion-report-overwrite specifies whether to overwrite the assessment report folder if it already exists.

Default value: false. (optional attribute)
write-converted-sql-to specifies the file (or) folder path where the converted T-SQL is to be stored. When a folder path is specified along with the sql-files attribute, each source file has a corresponding target T-SQL file created under the specified folder. When a folder path is specified along with the sql attribute, the converted T-SQL is written to a file named Result.out under the specified folder.
sql specifies the Oracle sql statements to be converted, one or more statements can be separated using a ";"
sql-files specifies the path of the sql files that has to be converted to T-SQL code.
write-summary-report-to specifies the path where the report is generated. If only the folder path is mentioned, then file by name ConvertSQLReport.xml is created. (optional attribute)

Report creation has two further subcategories:
- report-errors (="true/false", with default as "false" (optional attributes)).
- verbose (="true/false", with default as "false" (optional attributes)).

Script

Requires one or several metabase nodes as command line parameter.

Syntax example

<convert-sql-statement
   context="<schema-name>"
   conversion-report-folder="<folder-name>"
   conversion-report-overwrite="<true/false>"
   write-summary-report-to="<file-name/folder-name>"   (optional)
   verbose="<true/false>"   (optional)
   report-errors="<true/false>"   (optional)
   destination="<stdout/file>"   (optional)
   file-name="<file-name>"
   sql="SELECT 1 FROM DUAL;">
   <output-window suppress-messages="<true/false>" />
</convert-sql-statement>

Or:

<convert-sql-statement
   context="<schema-name>"
   conversion-report-folder="<folder-name>"
   conversion-report-overwrite="<true/false>"
   write-summary-report-to="<file-name/folder-name>" (optional)
   verbose="<true/false>" (optional)
   report-errors="<true/false>"
   destination="<stdout/file>"   (optional)
   write-converted-sql-to="<file-name/folder-name>"
   sql-files="<folder-name>\*.sql" />

Or:

<convert-sql-statement
   context="<schema-name>"
   conversion-report-folder="<folder-name>"
   conversion-report-overwrite="<true/false>"
   sql-files="<folder-name>\*.sql" />

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Last updated on 2025-11-12

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Executing the SSMA console (OracleToSQL)

Project script file commands

create-new-project command

Script

Syntax example

open-project command

Script

Syntax example

save-project command

Syntax example

close-project command

Syntax example

Database Connection script file commands

connect-source-database command

Script

Syntax example

force-load-source/target-database command

Script

Syntax example

reconnect-source-database command

Syntax example

connect-target-database command

Script

Syntax example

reconnect-target-database command

Syntax example

Report script file commands

generate-assessment-report command

Script

Syntax example

Migration script file commands

convert-schema command

Script

Syntax example

migrate-data command

Script

Syntax example

Migration Preparation script file commands

map-schema command

Script

Syntax example

Manageability script file commands

synchronize-target command

Script

Syntax example

refresh-from-database command

Script

Syntax example

Script Generation script file commands

save-as-script command

Script

Syntax example

convert-sql-statement command

Script

Syntax example

Related content

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Additional resources

`create-new-project` command

`open-project` command

`save-project` command

`close-project` command

`connect-source-database` command

`force-load-source/target-database` command

`reconnect-source-database` command

`connect-target-database` command

`reconnect-target-database` command

`generate-assessment-report` command

`convert-schema` command

`migrate-data` command

`map-schema` command

`synchronize-target` command

`refresh-from-database` command

`save-as-script` command

`convert-sql-statement` command