SQL Server database project pre- and post-deployment script - sql

Question

I've added an extra column to a table which I want to initialize using a query in the post deployment script. Unfortunately I can't seem to write a query which can be run every time so I'm looking for a way to check in the pre-deployment script if the column is available and pass an argument or variable to the post-deployment script which will then run the initialization query once.
Attempt 1: I tried setting a sqlcmd var in the pre-deployment script but the following syntax isn't allowed:
IF COL_LENGTH('dbo.Table','NewColumn') IS NULL
:setvar PerformInitQuery 1
Attempt 2: I've also tried using a normal variable in the pre-deployment script:
DECLARE #PerformInitQuery BIT = 0
IF COL_LENGTH('dbo.Table','NewColumn') IS NULL
SET #PerformInitQuery = 1
And accessing it in the post-deployment script:
IF #PerformInitQuery = 1
BEGIN
:r ".\DeploymentScripts\PerformInitQuery.sql"
END
This last attempt seemed to work when publishing the project from Visual Studio but not on our build server; which uses SqlPackage.exe to publish the generated .dacpac file to the database.
Error SQL72014: .Net SqlClient Data Provider:
Msg 137, Level 15, State 2, Line 12
Must declare the scalar variable "#PerformInitQuery"

Answer 1

You could try using a temp table to hold values you wish to pass from pre to post scripts;
/*
Pre-Deployment Script Template
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This file contains SQL statements that will be executed before the build script.
Use SQLCMD syntax to include a file in the pre-deployment script.
Example: :r .\myfile.sql
Use SQLCMD syntax to reference a variable in the pre-deployment script.
Example: :setvar TableName MyTable
SELECT * FROM [$(TableName)]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
select 'hello world' as [Col] into #temptable
picked up in post deployment script;
/*
Post-Deployment Script Template
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This file contains SQL statements that will be appended to the build script.
Use SQLCMD syntax to include a file in the post-deployment script.
Example: :r .\myfile.sql
Use SQLCMD syntax to reference a variable in the post-deployment script.
Example: :setvar TableName MyTable
SELECT * FROM [$(TableName)]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
declare #var nvarchar(200)
select #var = [Col] from #temptable
print #var
hello world
Update complete.