SET more than 1 row output into 1 variable - sql

Question

I am wanting to be able to save more than just 1 output from a SELECT query in a single variable.
Currently I am gathering my needed data like so:
DECLARE #something1 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #something2 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #something3 VARCHAR(MAX)
SET #something1 = (
SELECT
Custom AS 'XXL Format'
FROM
tblData
WHERE
ID = 1);
SET #something2 = (
SELECT
Custom.value('(/Individual/text())[1]', 'varchar(MAX)') AS 'Non XML Format'
FROM
tblData
WHERE
ID = 1)
SET #something3 = (
SELECT
tbl1.paper,
tbl2.type
FROM
tblData AS tbl1
JOIN tblData2 tbl2
ON tbl1.ID = tbl2.ID
WHERE
ID = 1);
I have the following demo that shows what I am wanting to do
DECLARE #tester VARCHAR(MAX)
SET #tester = (
SELECT
tbl1.Custom AS 'XXL Format',
tbl1.Custom.value('(/Individual/text())[1]', 'varchar(MAX)') AS 'Non XML Format'
tbl1.paper,
tbl2.type
FROM
tblData AS tbl1
JOIN tblData2 tbl2
ON tbl1.ID = tbl2.ID
WHERE
ID = 1);
I get the error of:
Only one expression can be specified in the select list when
the subquery is not introduced with EXISTS
Both demos can be found here
I have tried to set the variable to "table" and store the data like that but that also does not seem to work correctly [I'm sure I am doing something wrong - that may be the answer to this question I'm asking]
How can I just use 1 variable for all that the above query outputs?

Answer 1

Your error is that the subquery returned more than one value. You can use top if you don't care which value gets assigned:
SET #tester = (SELECT TOP (1) description FROM ForgeRock);

Answer 2

You have to return only one value you can try top or limit like SET #tester = (SELECT TOP 1 description FROM ForgeRock); or SET #tester = (SELECT description FROM ForgeRock LIMIT 1);

Answer 3

So I guess I was correct with the set the variable to a temp "table". I finally just now got it to work for my needs!
DECLARE #tmpTbl table (_xml, _parsedXML, _paper, _type)
INSERT INTO #tmpTbl
SELECT
tbl1.Custom AS 'XML Format',
tbl1.Custom.value('(/Individual/text())[1]', 'varchar(MAX)') AS 'Non XML Format',
tbl1.paper,
tbl2.type
FROM
tblData AS tbl1
JOIN tblData2 AS tbl2
ON tbl1.ID = tbl2.ID
WHERE
ID = 1;
DECLARE #something1 VARCHAR(MAX) = (SELECT _xml FROM #tmpTbl);
DECLARE #something2 VARCHAR(MAX) = (SELECT _parsedXML FROM #tmpTbl);
DECLARE #something3 VARCHAR(MAX) = (SELECT _paper FROM #tmpTbl);
DECLARE #something4 VARCHAR(MAX) = (SELECT _type FROM #tmpTbl);
DELETE FROM #tmpTbl --Not really needed but nice to be offical :)
This above stores the values into one place. Although its not inside 1 variable I guess having to create a temp table isn't all that bad for the database/performance...