sql
The <sql>
Change Type allows you to specify whatever SQL you want.
Uses
It is useful for complex changes that aren't supported through Liquibase's automated Change Types and to work around bugs and limitations of Liquibase. The SQL contained in the <sql>
Change Type can be multi-line.
Tip: If you use psql, SQL Plus, or sqlcmd utility and Liquibase Pro, see Use PSQL and runWith on PostgreSQL, Use SQL Plus and runWith on Oracle Database, and Use SQLCMD and runWith on Microsoft SQL Server.
Using the SQL Change Type
The <sql>
Change Type can also support multi-line statements in the same file. Statements can either be split using a ;
at the end of the last line of the SQL or a GO
on its own on the line between the statements can be used. Multi-line SQL statements are also supported and only a ;
or GO
statement will finish a statement, a new line is not enough. Files containing a single statement do not need to use a ;
or GO
.
The SQL change can also contain comments of either of the following formats:
- A multi-line comment that starts with
/*
and ends with*/
. - A single line comment starting with
--
and finishing at the end of the line.
Note: By default it will attempt to split statements on a ;
or GO
at the end of lines. Because of this, if you have a comment or some other non-statement ending ;
or GO
, don't have it at the end of a line or you will get invalid SQL.

Currently, there is no SQL example for the <sql>
tag, since you can just put SQL into a SQL formatted changelog.

...
<changeSet author="liquibase-docs" id="sql-example">
<sql dbms="!h2, oracle, mysql"
endDelimiter="\nGO"
splitStatements="true"
stripComments="true">insert into person (name) values ('Bob')
<comment>What about Bob?</comment>
</sql>
</changeSet>
...

...
- changeSet:
id: sql-example
author: liquibase-docs
changes:
- sql:
dbms: '!h2, oracle, mysql'
endDelimiter: \nGO
splitStatements: true
sql: insert into person (name) values ('Bob')
stripComments: true
comment: What about Bob?
...

...
{
"databaseChangeLog": [
{
"changeSet": {
"id": "sql-example",
"author": "liquibase-docs",
"changes": [
{
"sql": {
"dbms": "!h2, oracle, mysql",
"endDelimiter": "GO",
"splitStatements": true,
"sql": "insert into person (name) values ('Bob')",
"stripComments": true
}
},
"comment": "What about Bob?",
]
}
}
]}
...
Available attributes
Name | Description | Required for | Supports | Since |
---|---|---|---|---|
dbms
|
Specifies which database type |
all | 3.0 | |
endDelimiter
|
Specifies delimiter to apply to the end of the statement. Default: " |
all | ||
splitStatements
|
Removes Liquibase split statements on |
all | ||
sql
|
Specifies the SQL to execute | all | all | |
stripComments
|
Removes any comments in the SQL before executing when it is set to |
all |
Database support
Database | Notes | Auto Rollback |
---|---|---|
DB2/LUW | Supported | No |
DB2/z | Supported | No |
Derby | Supported | No |
Firebird | Supported | No |
H2 | Supported | No |
HyperSQL | Supported | No |
INGRES | Supported | No |
Informix | Supported | No |
MariaDB | Supported | No |
MySQL | Supported | No |
Oracle | Supported | No |
PostgreSQL | Supported | No |
Snowflake | Supported | No |
SQL Server | Supported | No |
SQLite | Supported | No |
Sybase | Supported | No |
Sybase Anywhere | Supported | No |