• Reference
  • Version · 4.33
  • Reference guide

update-count-sql

Last updated: August 12, 2026

The update-count-sql command is a helper command that inspects the SQL Liquibase will run while using the update-count command.

Uses

The update-count-sql command is used to inspect the raw SQL before running the update-count command, so you can correct any issues that may arise before running the command. Liquibase uses the raw SQL to apply a specified number of database changes you have added to the changelog file.

Syntax

To run the update-count-sql command, specify the driver, classpath, and URL in the Liquibase properties file. You can also specify properties from the command line.

Then run the update-count-sql command:

liquibase update-count-sql --count=2 --changelog-file=example-changelog.xml

Note: The --count=myCount syntax was added in Liquibase 4.4. If you use an older version, specify your count as a positional argument: <command> myCount.

* Liquibase checks the changelog and any nested changelogs for the definitions of the changeset to update.

Note: The username and password attributes are not required for connections and systems which use alternate means of authentication. Also, you can specify database credentials as part of the url attribute.

Parameters

Global parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

--output-file=<string>

File path to where the command output will be written. If not specified, output goes to STDOUT. See --output-file.

Optional

Command parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

--changelog-file=<string>

The root changelog

Required

--count=<int>

An integer specifying how many changes Liquibase applies the command to. Specify as --count=myCount. Positional format <command> <count> deprecated in 4.4+.

Required

--url=<string>

The JDBC database connection URL. See Using JDBC URL in Liquibase.

Required

--change-exec-listener-class=<string>

Fully-qualified class that specifies a ChangeExecListener.

Optional

--change-exec-listener-properties-file=<string>

Path to a properties file for the ChangeExecListener class.

Optional

--context-filter=<string>

Specifies the changeset contexts to match. Contexts are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets are executed in any particular migration run.

Note: If you use Liquibase 4.23.0 or earlier, use the syntax --contexts instead of --context-filter.

Optional

--default-catalog-name=<string>

Name of the default catalog to use for the database connection

Optional

--default-schema-name=<string>

Name of the default schema to use for the database connection. If defaultSchemaName is set, then objects do not have to be fully qualified. This means you can refer to just mytable instead of myschema.mytable.

Note: In the properties file and JAVA_OPTS only: in 4.18.0 and earlier, specify this parameter using the syntax defaultSchemaName. In 4.19.0 and later, use the syntax liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName.

Note: In Liquibase 4.12.0 and later, you can use mixed-case schema names if you set --preserve-schema-case to true. However, in Liquibase 4.12.0–4.22.0, the Liquibase validator still throws a DatabaseException error if you specify a mixed-case value of defaultSchemaName. In 4.23.0 and later, the Liquibase validator accepts any casing.

Optional

--driver=<string>

The JDBC driver class

Optional

--driver-properties-file=<string>

The JDBC driver properties file

Optional

--label-filter=<string>

Specifies the changeset labels to match. Labels are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets will be executed in any migration run.

Optional

--output-default-catalog=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default catalog are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default catalog are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

--output-default-schema=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default schema are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default schema are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

--password=<string>

Password to connect to the target database.

Optional

--username=<string>

Username to connect to the target database.

Optional

Global parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

globalArgs: { output-file: "<string>" }

File path to where the command output will be written. If not specified, output goes to STDOUT. See --output-file.

Optional

Command parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

cmdArgs: { changelog-file: "<string>" }

The root changelog

Required

cmdArgs: { count: "<int>" }

Integer specifying how many changes Liquibase applies the command to. Specify as --count=myCount. Positional format <command> <count> deprecated in 4.4+.

Required

cmdArgs: { url: "<string>" }

The JDBC database connection URL. See Using JDBC URL in Liquibase.

Required

cmdArgs: { change-exec-listener-class: "<string>" }

Fully-qualified class which specifies a ChangeExecListener.

Optional

cmdArgs: { change-exec-listener-properties-file: "<string>" }

Path to a properties file for the ChangeExecListener class.

Optional

cmdArgs: { context-filter: "<string>" }

Specifies the changeset contexts to match. Contexts are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets are executed in any particular migration run.

Note: If you use Liquibase 4.23.0 or earlier, use the syntax --contexts instead of --context-filter.

Optional

cmdArgs: { default-catalog-name: "<string>" }

Name of the default catalog to use for the database connection

Optional

cmdArgs: { default-schema-name: "<string>" }

Name of the default schema to use for the database connection. If defaultSchemaName is set, then objects do not have to be fully qualified. This means you can refer to just mytable instead of myschema.mytable.

Note: In the properties file and JAVA_OPTS only: in 4.18.0 and earlier, specify this parameter using the syntax defaultSchemaName. In 4.19.0 and later, use the syntax liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName.

Note: In Liquibase 4.12.0 and later, you can use mixed-case schema names if you set --preserve-schema-case to true. However, in Liquibase 4.12.0–4.22.0, the Liquibase validator still throws a DatabaseException error if you specify a mixed-case value of defaultSchemaName. In 4.23.0 and later, the Liquibase validator accepts any casing.

Optional

cmdArgs: { driver: "<string>" }

The JDBC driver class

Optional

cmdArgs: { driver-properties-file: "<string>" }

The JDBC driver properties file

Optional

cmdArgs: { label-filter: "<string>" }

Specifies the changeset labels to match. Labels are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets will be executed in any migration run.

Optional

cmdArgs: { output-default-catalog: "<true|false>" }

Control whether names of objects in the default catalog are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default catalog are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

cmdArgs: { output-default-schema: "<true|false>" }

Control whether names of objects in the default schema are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default schema are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

cmdArgs: { password: "<string>" }

Password to connect to the target database.

Optional

cmdArgs: { username: "<string>" }

Username to connect to the target database.

Optional

Global parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

liquibase.outputFile: <string>

File path to where the command output will be written. If not specified, output goes to STDOUT. See --output-file.

Optional

Command parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

liquibase.command.changelogFile: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.changelogFile: <string>

The root changelog

Required

liquibase.command.count: <int>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.count: <int>

Integer specifying how many changes Liquibase applies the command to. Specify as --count=myCount. Positional format <command> <count> deprecated in 4.4+.

Required

liquibase.command.url: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.url: <string>

The JDBC database connection URL. See Using JDBC URL in Liquibase.

Required

liquibase.command.changeExecListenerClass: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.changeExecListenerClass: <string>

Fully-qualified class which specifies a ChangeExecListener.

Optional

liquibase.command.changeExecListenerPropertiesFile: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.changeExecListenerPropertiesFile: <string>

Path to a properties file for the ChangeExecListener class.

Optional

liquibase.command.contextFilter: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.contextFilter: <string>

Specifies the changeset contexts to match. Contexts are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets are executed in any particular migration run.

Note: If you use Liquibase 4.23.0 or earlier, use the syntax --contexts instead of --context-filter.

Optional

liquibase.command.defaultCatalogName: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.defaultCatalogName: <string>

Name of the default catalog to use for the database connection

Optional

liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.defaultSchemaName: <string>

Name of the default schema to use for the database connection. If defaultSchemaName is set, then objects do not have to be fully qualified. This means you can refer to just mytable instead of myschema.mytable.

Note: In the properties file and JAVA_OPTS only: in 4.18.0 and earlier, specify this parameter using the syntax defaultSchemaName. In 4.19.0 and later, use the syntax liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName.

Note: In Liquibase 4.12.0 and later, you can use mixed-case schema names if you set --preserve-schema-case to true. However, in Liquibase 4.12.0–4.22.0, the Liquibase validator still throws a DatabaseException error if you specify a mixed-case value of defaultSchemaName. In 4.23.0 and later, the Liquibase validator accepts any casing.

Optional

liquibase.command.driver: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.driver: <string>

The JDBC driver class

Optional

liquibase.command.driverPropertiesFile: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.driverPropertiesFile: <string>

The JDBC driver properties file

Optional

liquibase.command.labelFilter: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.labelFilter: <string>

Specifies the changeset labels to match. Labels are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets will be executed in any migration run.

Optional

liquibase.command.outputDefaultCatalog: <true|false>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.outputDefaultCatalog: <true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default catalog are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default catalog are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

liquibase.command.outputDefaultSchema: <true|false>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.outputDefaultSchema: <true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default schema are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default schema are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

liquibase.command.password: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.password: <string>

Password to connect to the target database.

Optional

liquibase.command.username: <string>

liquibase.command.updateCountSql.username: <string>

Username to connect to the target database.

Optional

Global parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.outputFile=<string>

File path to where the command output will be written. If not specified, output goes to STDOUT. See --output-file.

Optional

Command parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.changelogFile=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.changelogFile=<string>

The root changelog

Required

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.count=<int>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.count=<int>

Integer specifying how many changes Liquibase applies the command to. Specify as --count=myCount. Positional format <command> <count> deprecated in 4.4+.

Required

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.url=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.url=<string>

The JDBC database connection URL. See Using JDBC URL in Liquibase.

Required

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.changeExecListenerClass=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.changeExecListenerClass=<string>

Fully-qualified class which specifies a ChangeExecListener.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.changeExecListenerPropertiesFile=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.changeExecListenerPropertiesFile=<string>

Path to a properties file for the ChangeExecListener class.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.contextFilter=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.contextFilter=<string>

Specifies the changeset contexts to match. Contexts are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets are executed in any particular migration run.

Note: If you use Liquibase 4.23.0 or earlier, use the syntax --contexts instead of --context-filter.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.defaultCatalogName=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.defaultCatalogName=<string>

Name of the default catalog to use for the database connection

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.defaultSchemaName=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.defaultSchemaName=<string>

Name of the default schema to use for the database connection. If defaultSchemaName is set, then objects do not have to be fully qualified. This means you can refer to just mytable instead of myschema.mytable.

Note: In the properties file and JAVA_OPTS only: in 4.18.0 and earlier, specify this parameter using the syntax defaultSchemaName. In 4.19.0 and later, use the syntax liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName.

Note: In Liquibase 4.12.0 and later, you can use mixed-case schema names if you set --preserve-schema-case to true. However, in Liquibase 4.12.0–4.22.0, the Liquibase validator still throws a DatabaseException error if you specify a mixed-case value of defaultSchemaName. In 4.23.0 and later, the Liquibase validator accepts any casing.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.driver=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.driver=<string>

The JDBC driver class

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.driverPropertiesFile=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.driverPropertiesFile=<string>

The JDBC driver properties file

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.labelFilter=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.labelFilter=<string>

Specifies the changeset labels to match. Labels are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets will be executed in any migration run.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.outputDefaultCatalog=<true|false>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.outputDefaultCatalog=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default catalog are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default catalog are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.outputDefaultSchema=<true|false>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.outputDefaultSchema=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default schema are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default schema are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.password=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.password=<string>

Password to connect to the target database.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.username=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.updateCountSql.username=<string>

Username to connect to the target database.

Optional

Global parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

LIQUIBASE_OUTPUT_FILE=<string>

File path to where the command output will be written. If not specified, output goes to STDOUT. See --output-file.

Optional

Command parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_CHANGELOG_FILE=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_CHANGELOG_FILE=<string>

The root changelog

Required

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_COUNT=<int>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_COUNT=<int>

Integer specifying how many changes Liquibase applies the command to. Specify as --count=myCount. Positional format <command> <count> deprecated in 4.4+.

Required

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_URL=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_URL=<string>

The JDBC database connection URL. See Using JDBC URL in Liquibase.

Required

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_CHANGE_EXEC_LISTENER_CLASS=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_CHANGE_EXEC_LISTENER_CLASS=<string>

Fully-qualified class which specifies a ChangeExecListener.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_CHANGE_EXEC_LISTENER_PROPERTIES_FILE=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_CHANGE_EXEC_LISTENER_PROPERTIES_FILE=<string>

Path to a properties file for the ChangeExecListener class.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_CONTEXT_FILTER=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_CONTEXT_FILTER=<string>

Specifies the changeset contexts to match. Contexts are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets are executed in any particular migration run.

Note: If you use Liquibase 4.23.0 or earlier, use the syntax --contexts instead of --context-filter.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_DEFAULT_CATALOG_NAME=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_DEFAULT_CATALOG_NAME=<string>

Name of the default catalog to use for the database connection

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_DEFAULT_SCHEMA_NAME=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_DEFAULT_SCHEMA_NAME=<string>

Name of the default schema to use for the database connection. If defaultSchemaName is set, then objects do not have to be fully qualified. This means you can refer to just mytable instead of myschema.mytable.

Note: In the properties file and JAVA_OPTS only: in 4.18.0 and earlier, specify this parameter using the syntax defaultSchemaName. In 4.19.0 and later, use the syntax liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName.

Note: In Liquibase 4.12.0 and later, you can use mixed-case schema names if you set --preserve-schema-case to true. However, in Liquibase 4.12.0–4.22.0, the Liquibase validator still throws a DatabaseException error if you specify a mixed-case value of defaultSchemaName. In 4.23.0 and later, the Liquibase validator accepts any casing.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_DRIVER=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_DRIVER=<string>

The JDBC driver class

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_DRIVER_PROPERTIES_FILE=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_DRIVER_PROPERTIES_FILE=<string>

The JDBC driver properties file

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_LABEL_FILTER=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_LABEL_FILTER=<string>

Specifies the changeset labels to match. Labels are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets will be executed in any migration run.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_OUTPUT_DEFAULT_CATALOG=<true|false>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_OUTPUT_DEFAULT_CATALOG=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default catalog are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default catalog are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_OUTPUT_DEFAULT_SCHEMA=<true|false>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_OUTPUT_DEFAULT_SCHEMA=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default schema are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default schema are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_PASSWORD=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_PASSWORD=<string>

Password to connect to the target database.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_USERNAME=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_UPDATE_COUNT_SQL_USERNAME=<string>

Username to connect to the target database.

Optional

Output

Liquibase Version: 4.9.1 Liquibase Community 4.9.1 by Liquibase -- ********************************************************************* -- Update 2 Change Sets Database Script -- ********************************************************************* -- Change Log: example-changelog.sql -- Ran at: 5/9/22, 10:37 AM -- Against: DBUSER@jdbc:h2:tcp://localhost:9090/mem:dev -- Liquibase version: 4.9.1 -- ********************************************************************* -- Lock Database UPDATE PUBLIC.DATABASECHANGELOGLOCK SET LOCKED = TRUE, LOCKEDBY = 'DESKTOP-SQVSSV2 (192.168.1.179)', LOCKGRANTED = NOW() WHERE ID = 1 AND LOCKED = FALSE; -- Release Database Lock UPDATE PUBLIC.DATABASECHANGELOGLOCK SET LOCKED = FALSE, LOCKEDBY = NULL, LOCKGRANTED = NULL WHERE ID = 1; Liquibase command 'update-count-sql' was executed successfully.

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