The FormatMedia property controls tape formatting on a backup operation.
object.FormatMedia [= value]
object
Expression that evaluates to an object in the Applies To list
value
TRUE or FALSE
Boolean
Read/write
HRESULT GetFormatMedia(LPBOOL pRetVal);
HRESULT SetFormatMedia(BOOL NewValue);
The FormatMedia property applies only when the backup medium is tape. The property has no meaning for device, file, or pipe media.
If TRUE, the Microsoft® SQL Server™ backup operation attempts to format the tape as an initial step.
If FALSE, the SQL Server backup operation does not attempt to format the tape.