Expand all view-queries in query - sql

Question

I have queries like this:
SELECT
*
FROM vwUsers
LEFT JOIN tblLocations
ON vwUsers.id = tblLocations.owner
Is there an automated way to expand out this query to include the view statement (and any nested view statements)? I'd like to end up with something like:
SELECT * FROM
(SELECT id,name, -- vwUsers expanded into it's defining statement
FROM tblUsers
LEFT JOIN tblNames
ON tblUsers.id = tblNames.id) AS vwUsers
LEFT JOIN tblLocations
ON vwUsers.id = tblLocations.owner

Answer 1

The solution seems clear:
Create a list with all refereed views
Get their definitions
Replace the definitions in your query
Something like this in my environment:
DECLARE #Objects TABLE
(
[ObjectName] SYSNAME
,[Definition] NVARCHAR(MAX)
);
INSERT INTO #Objects ([ObjectName])
VALUES ('[dbo].[SurveyInstancesHistory]')
,('dbo.vw_MystClients');
UPDATE #Objects
SET [Definition] = M.[definition]
FROM #Objects O
INNER JOIN [sys].[objects] OB
ON OBJECT_ID([ObjectName]) = OB.[object_id]
INNER JOIN [sys].[sql_modules] M
ON OBJECT_ID([ObjectName]) = M.[object_id]
WHERE OB.[type] = 'V';
DECLARE #DynamicTSQLStatement NVARCHAR(MAX) = N'
SELECT *
FROM SurveyInstances SI
INNER JOIN [dbo].[SurveyInstancesHistory] SIH
ON SI.[SurveyInstanceID] = SIH.[SurveyInstanceID]
INNER JOIN ProtoSurveys PS
ON SI.[ProtoSurveyID] = PS.[ProtoSurveyID]
INNER JOIN dbo.vw_MystClients MC
ON PS.[ClientID] = MC.[Client<br>ID];'
SELECT #DynamicTSQLStatement = REPLACE(#DynamicTSQLStatement, [ObjectName], '(' + [Definition] + ') AS ' + [ObjectName])
FROM #Objects;
SELECT #DynamicTSQLStatement;
In order this to be automated the following cases must be handled:
we can automatically get the referred objects using regex matches
we can automatically replace the CREATE VIEW .... AS statement using regex
In you need a script that's always working in your example you need to write the regex expressions by yourself as people are creating views with different syntax. As the above can be used and edited by hand in order to run, a very complex script can be created depending on your needs.
Strongly recommenced to implement the String Utility Functions Sample in order to get regex support in T-SQL.