I think I encountered a bug with [sp_execute_external_script][1], so here is the replay.

I will get an error if I run the following script:

    -- error occurs
    exec sp_execute_external_script @language=N'R'
    , @script = N' result <- as.data.frame(c(i, j));'
    , @params = N'@i varchar(100), @j varchar(100)'
    , @i = 'hello'
    , @j = 'world'
    , @output_data_1_name = N'result' -- the position of this param caused problem
    with result sets ((test varchar(100)));

I will get an error

> Msg 8144, Level 16, State 2, Line 1  
Procedure or function  has too many arguments specified.

However, if I just move up the `@output_data_1_name` like the following:

    -- NO error occurs
    exec sp_execute_external_script @language=N'R'
    , @script = N' result <- as.data.frame(c(i, j));'
    , @output_data_1_name = N'result' -- this position in front of @parms caused NO problem
    , @params = N'@i varchar(100), @j varchar(100)'
    , @i = 'hello'
    , @j = 'world'
    with result sets ((test varchar(100)));

I will get a normal output:

[![enter image description here][2]][2]

Does anyone know whether I am doing something wrong or it indeed could be a bug in SQL Server 2016?

My environment is (by `select @@version`):

    Microsoft SQL Server 2016 (SP1-CU1) (KB3208177) - 13.0.4411.0 (X64) 
    	Jan  6 2017 14:24:37 
    	Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
    	Developer Edition (64-bit) on Windows 10 Pro 6.3 <X64> (Build 14393: )


**Update**:
I tested a little bit more and indeed the position of parameters will cause errors, such as following:

    exec sp_execute_external_script 
     @script = N' result <- as.data.frame(c(i, j));'
    , @output_data_1_name = N'result' -- the position of this param caused NO problem
    , @params = N'@i varchar(100), @j varchar(100)'
    , @i = N'hello'
    , @j = N'world'
    , @language=N'R' -- if I put @language here, it will cause error
    with result sets ((test varchar(100)));


or this:

    exec sp_execute_external_script  @language=N'R'
    , @script = N' result <- as.data.frame(c(i, j));'
    , @output_data_1_name = N'result' -- the position of this param caused NO problem
    , @i = N'hello'
    , @j = N'world'
    , @params = N'@i varchar(100), @j varchar(100)'
    with result sets ((test varchar(100)));

The error message will be:

> Msg 214, Level 16, State 175, Procedure sp_execute_external_script, Line 1 [Batch Start Line 19]  
Procedure expects parameter '@params' of type 'ntext/nchar/nvarchar'.

But I actually give each parameter of type `nvarchar` already.

I will consider open a bug report to MS if I do not see anyone pointing out my "errors".

  [1]: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/mt604368.aspx
  [2]: https://i.sstatic.net/qgUtF.jpg