Insert results of a stored procedure into a temporary table

How to Insert Results of a Stored Procedure into a Temporary Table

Are you struggling with inserting the results of a stored procedure into a temporary table without defining the columns? 🤔 Don't worry, you're not alone! Many developers face this issue, but luckily, there are easy solutions to overcome it. In this blog post, we will explore common challenges and provide you with a step-by-step guide to tackle this problem. Let's get started! 🚀

The Problem Explained

So, you want to insert the results of a stored procedure into a temporary table, right? It seems straightforward when you're dealing with a regular table, as shown in this example:

SELECT * INTO tmpBusLine FROM BusinessLine

But what if you try the same approach with a stored procedure that returns data? Here's an example:

SELECT * INTO tmpBusLine FROM exec getBusinessLineHistory '16 Mar 2009'

Unfortunately, this won't work. You'll encounter an error message that says: "Incorrect syntax near the keyword 'exec'." 😱

Easy Solutions

While you can find examples of creating a temporary table with the same structure as the stored procedure's output, it involves manually defining the columns, which can be a hassle. But fret not! We have a couple of simple solutions for you.

Solution 1: Using OPENROWSET

One way to overcome this limitation is by using the OPENROWSET function in SQL Server. Here's how you can modify your query to achieve the desired result:

SELECT *
INTO tmpBusLine
FROM OPENROWSET('SQLNCLI', 'SERVER=(local);Trusted_Connection=yes;',
               'EXEC getBusinessLineHistory ''16 Mar 2009''')

By wrapping the stored procedure call inside the OPENROWSET function, you can effectively insert the results into the temporary table without manually specifying the columns. 🎉

Solution 2: Creating the Temporary Table in Advance

Another approach is to create the temporary table in advance with the same structure as the stored procedure's output. This way, you can simply insert the results into the pre-defined table. Here's how you can do it:

-- Create the temporary table
CREATE TABLE #tmpBusLine (
   -- Define the necessary columns
   -- ...
)

-- Insert results into the temporary table
INSERT INTO #tmpBusLine
EXEC getBusinessLineHistory '16 Mar 2009'

Although this involves defining the columns initially, it allows you to insert the results without any additional hassle. Plus, you can reuse the same temporary table in multiple places within your stored procedure or script.

Your Call to Action

Now that you know two easy and practical solutions to insert the results of a stored procedure into a temporary table, it's time to put this knowledge into action. Give them a try and see which solution works best for your scenario. Feel free to experiment and adapt these methods to fit your needs. 🧪

And hey, if you encounter any other SQL-related issues or have suggestions for future blog posts, we'd love to hear from you! Drop a comment below 👇 or reach out to us on Twitter or Facebook. Let's keep the conversation going!

Remember, technology is all about learning and growing together. Stay curious, keep exploring, and happy coding! 💻✨