Why I can't set the value [duplicate] - sql

Question

I am trying to execute this query:
declare #tablename varchar(50)
set #tablename = 'test'
select * from #tablename
This produces the following error:
Msg 1087, Level 16, State 1, Line 5
Must declare the table variable "#tablename".
What's the right way to have the table name populated dynamically?

Answer 1

For static queries, like the one in your question, table names and column names need to be static.
For dynamic queries, you should generate the full SQL dynamically, and use sp_executesql to execute it.
Here is an example of a script used to compare data between the same tables of different databases:
Static query:
SELECT * FROM [DB_ONE].[dbo].[ACTY]
EXCEPT
SELECT * FROM [DB_TWO].[dbo].[ACTY]
Since I want to easily change the name of table and schema, I have created this dynamic query:
declare #schema sysname;
declare #table sysname;
declare #query nvarchar(max);
set #schema = 'dbo'
set #table = 'ACTY'
set #query = '
SELECT * FROM [DB_ONE].' + QUOTENAME(#schema) + '.' + QUOTENAME(#table) + '
EXCEPT
SELECT * FROM [DB_TWO].' + QUOTENAME(#schema) + '.' + QUOTENAME(#table);
EXEC sp_executesql #query
Since dynamic queries have many details that need to be considered and they are hard to maintain, I recommend that you read: The curse and blessings of dynamic SQL

Answer 2

Change your last statement to this:
EXEC('SELECT * FROM ' + #tablename)
This is how I do mine in a stored procedure. The first block will declare the variable, and set the table name based on the current year and month name, in this case TEST_2012OCTOBER. I then check if it exists in the database already, and remove if it does. Then the next block will use a SELECT INTO statement to create the table and populate it with records from another table with parameters.
--DECLARE TABLE NAME VARIABLE DYNAMICALLY
DECLARE #table_name varchar(max)
SET #table_name =
(SELECT 'TEST_'
+ DATENAME(YEAR,GETDATE())
+ UPPER(DATENAME(MONTH,GETDATE())) )
--DROP THE TABLE IF IT ALREADY EXISTS
IF EXISTS(SELECT name
FROM sysobjects
WHERE name = #table_name AND xtype = 'U')
BEGIN
EXEC('drop table ' + #table_name)
END
--CREATES TABLE FROM DYNAMIC VARIABLE AND INSERTS ROWS FROM ANOTHER TABLE
EXEC('SELECT * INTO ' + #table_name + ' FROM dbo.MASTER WHERE STATUS_CD = ''A''')

Answer 3

Use:
CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[GetByName]
#TableName NVARCHAR(100)
AS
BEGIN
-- SET NOCOUNT ON added to prevent extra result sets from
-- interfering with SELECT statements.
SET NOCOUNT ON;
DECLARE #sSQL nvarchar(500);
SELECT #sSQL = N'SELECT * FROM' + QUOTENAME(#TableName);
EXEC sp_executesql #sSQL
END

Answer 4

You can't use a table name for a variable. You'd have to do this instead:
DECLARE #sqlCommand varchar(1000)
SET #sqlCommand = 'SELECT * from yourtable'
EXEC (#sqlCommand)

Answer 5

You'll need to generate the SQL content dynamically:
declare #tablename varchar(50)
set #tablename = 'test'
declare #sql varchar(500)
set #sql = 'select * from ' + #tablename
exec (#sql)

Answer 6

Use sp_executesql to execute any SQL, e.g.
DECLARE #tbl sysname,
#sql nvarchar(4000),
#params nvarchar(4000),
#count int
DECLARE tblcur CURSOR STATIC LOCAL FOR
SELECT object_name(id) FROM syscolumns WHERE name = 'LastUpdated'
ORDER BY 1
OPEN tblcur
WHILE 1 = 1
BEGIN
FETCH tblcur INTO #tbl
IF ##fetch_status <> 0
BREAK
SELECT #sql =
N' SELECT #cnt = COUNT(*) FROM dbo.' + quotename(#tbl) +
N' WHERE LastUpdated BETWEEN #fromdate AND ' +
N' coalesce(#todate, ''99991231'')'
SELECT #params = N'#fromdate datetime, ' +
N'#todate datetime = NULL, ' +
N'#cnt int OUTPUT'
EXEC sp_executesql #sql, #params, '20060101', #cnt = #count OUTPUT
PRINT #tbl + ': ' + convert(varchar(10), #count) + ' modified rows.'
END
DEALLOCATE tblcur

Answer 7

You need to use the SQL Server dynamic SQL:
DECLARE #table NVARCHAR(128),
#sql NVARCHAR(MAX);
SET #table = N'tableName';
SET #sql = N'SELECT * FROM ' + #table;
Use EXEC to execute any SQL:
EXEC (#sql)
Use EXEC sp_executesql to execute any SQL:
EXEC sp_executesql #sql;
Use EXECUTE sp_executesql to execute any SQL:
EXECUTE sp_executesql #sql

Answer 8

Declare #tablename varchar(50)
set #tablename = 'Your table Name'
EXEC('select * from ' + #tablename)

Answer 9

Also, you can use this...
DECLARE #SeqID varchar(150);
DECLARE #TableName varchar(150);
SET #TableName = (Select TableName from Table);
SET #SeqID = 'SELECT NEXT VALUE FOR ' + #TableName + '_Data'
exec (#SeqID)

Answer 10

Declare #fs_e int, #C_Tables CURSOR, #Table varchar(50)
SET #C_Tables = CURSOR FOR
select name from sysobjects where OBJECTPROPERTY(id, N'IsUserTable') = 1 AND name like 'TR_%'
OPEN #C_Tables
FETCH #C_Tables INTO #Table
SELECT #fs_e = sdec.fetch_Status FROM sys.dm_exec_cursors(0) as sdec where sdec.name = '#C_Tables'
WHILE ( #fs_e <> -1)
BEGIN
exec('Select * from ' + #Table)
FETCH #C_Tables INTO #Table
SELECT #fs_e = sdec.fetch_Status FROM sys.dm_exec_cursors(0) as sdec where sdec.name = '#C_Tables'
END