windows-itpro-docs/windows/deployment/planning/using-the-sdbinstexe-command-line-tool.md

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Using the Sdbinst.exe Command-Line Tool (Windows 10)	You must deploy your customized database (.sdb) files to other computers in your organization before your compatibility fixes, compatibility modes, and AppHelp messages are applied.	c1945425-3f8d-4de8-9d2d-59f801f07034		laurawi	greglin	w10	plan	appcompat	library	itpro	greg-lindsay	04/19/2017	article

Using the Sdbinst.exe Command-Line Tool

Applies to

• Windows 10
• Windows 8.1
• Windows 8
• Windows 7
• Windows Server 2016
• Windows Server 2012
• Windows Server 2008 R2

You must deploy your customized database (.sdb) files to other computers in your organization before your compatibility fixes, compatibility modes, and AppHelp messages are applied. You can deploy your customized database files in several ways, including by using a logon script, by using Group Policy, or by performing file copy operations.

After you deploy and store the customized databases on each of your local computers, you must register the database files. Until you register the database files, the operating system is unable to identify the available compatibility fixes when starting an application.

Command-Line Options for Deploying Customized Database Files

Sample output from the command Sdbinst.exe /? in an elevated CMD window:

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.14393]
(c) 2016 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>Sdbinst.exe /?
Usage: Sdbinst.exe [-?] [-q] [-u] [-g] [-p] [-n[:WIN32|WIN64]] myfile.sdb | {guid} | "name"

    -? - print this help text.
    -p - Allow SDBs containing patches.
    -q - Quiet mode: prompts are auto-accepted.
    -u - Uninstall.
    -g {guid} - GUID of file (uninstall only).
    -n "name" - Internal name of file (uninstall only).

C:\Windows\system32>_

The command-line options use the following conventions:

Sdbinst.exe [-?] [-p] [-q] [-u] [-g] [-u filepath] [-g GUID] [-n "name"]

The following table describes the available command-line options.

Option	Description
-?	Displays the Help for the Sdbinst.exe tool. For example, sdbinst.exe -?
-p	Allows SDBs installation with Patches For example, sdbinst.exe -p C:\Windows\AppPatch\Myapp.sdb
-q	Performs a silent installation with no visible window, status, or warning information. Fatal errors appear only in Event Viewer (Eventvwr.exe). For example, sdbinst.exe -q
-u filepath	Performs an uninstallation of the specified database. For example, sdbinst.exe -u C:\example.sdb
-g GUID	Specifies the customized database to uninstall by a globally unique identifier (GUID). For example, sdbinst.exe -g 6586cd8f-edc9-4ea8-ad94-afabea7f62e3
-n "name"	Specifies the customized database to uninstall by file name. For example, sdbinst.exe -n "My_Database"

Related topics

Compatibility Administrator User's Guide