>>>We are trying to use SQL Server xp_cmdshell SP to retireve directory information using a 'DIR xxx.*' type command. This returns a result set in Query Analyzer with an nvarchar(255) column named 'output'. However, we have not been able to find documentation on how to run the command in a SP and force the result set into, say, a temporary table in order to manipulate the data. How would this be done?
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>
>>Bill,
>>
>>I don't see anything either. However, if it's not possible, you could re-direct the output to a text file, and import it into a cursor or temporary table as a workaround.
>
>It is possible.

CREATE TABLE #temp1 (output varchar(512))
>INSERT INTO #temp1 EXEC xp_cmdshell 'dir C:\*.*'
>SELECT * FROM #temp1

Thanks for the heads up, Sergey. I'm still muddling around with T-SQL a bit and am not quite up to speed. I think this will get Bill going in the right direction.