Cannot execute script: Insufficient memory to continue the execution of the program

SQLCMD: The memory efficient tool

When dealing with mega-sized SQL scripts, turn to SQLCMD. This handy tool is recognized for its sparing memory use. Pop this command in your terminal to get started:

//SQLCMD - Because your memory deserves better
SQLCMD -d <database-name> -i filename.sql
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Ensure your SQL Server credentials are right and your database is the intended one. If your file path has spaces, wrap it in quotation marks.

If memorywoes linger, consider:

• Upgrading to a machine with more robust resources.
• Batching the script using -b.
• Running those important Windows updates.

Set up a minimum memory per query like this:

// Memory, it's better to have some, instead of none.
EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1;
RECONFIGURE;
EXEC sp_configure 'min memory per query', 2048;
RECONFIGURE;
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For more complex scripts, entertain using PL/SQL or a server-side stored procedure to manage massive data operations.

Allocating memory per query

To nip memory issues in the bud, you can make adjustments at the server level. Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), go to server properties and tweak the 'min memory per query' setting under 'Server Memory Options'. This ensures a minimum amount of memory is reserved for each query, helping to streamline heavier loads.

Administering large scripts

For script execution involving substantial resources, having proper permissions can be a game-changer. Running the Command Prompt as Administrator can equip SQLCMD with needed permissions to appropriate more memory or manage privileged operations.

Advanced Diagnosis

With common fixes not working, it's time to examine your script and the data operations it performs.

Employ System monitor tools for identifying memory bottlenecks. Using Extended Events or SQL Server Profiler can trace and spotlight problematic queries.

Disk-based tables can be a good alternative to memory-optimized tables which can occasionally guzzle memory.

Scrutinize execution plans for memory grants exceeding available resources. Query hints such as OPTION (MAXDOP 1) may help by limiting parallelism and curtailing memory consumption.

Alternatives to Monolithic Execution

Reached a hard stop with the usual approach? Consider:

• Script Partitioning: Break the files into smaller segments for sequential execution.
• Stored Procedures: These are great for complex data wrangling.
• ETL Tools: Heavy lifting tools like SSIS can handle operations outside the SQL Server environment, easing the memory burden.

Conditional and Loop Controls

Incorporating conditional statements and loop controls into your scripts allows you to fine-tune the flow of database operations and optimize memory usage. For instance, loops can process a subset of data at a time, reducing the memory load.