How to validate sql query syntax?

Question

java 1.4 Sql server 2000

i am taking input of sql query (for validation of field value against values retrieved by executing sql query) from admin user which will be stored in database and later i will executing sql query corresponding to field.Before inserting sql query in database i want to validate its syntax in java code.

Fields         Sql Query

stateCode      select statecode from states
district code  select district code from districts

Answer 1

Why would you let them enter whole sql-statements?

Just provide to fields and let them enter either the statecode or the districtcode.

Then check if the entered value is a number. And run the appropriate query with the entered value.

Answer 2

dont think there is any (easy) way to validate sql

Sql syntax is complex and allows for alot of different ways to enter a statement.

Think you best shot would be to just execute the sql statent and if you have a SQl exception see if its a bad syntax thats causing it.

you can prepend some sql to avoid from actually executing the query

in sybase it would be SET NOEXEC ON

Answer 3

A possible solution would could be to get the explain plan of the query, if it manages to explain the query I guess it must be valid. Down side is that it won't like parametrised queries.

Answer 4

You could do SET FMTONLY ON and then execute the query and see if it works. Just remember to do SET FMTONLY OFF in a finally block, since it's a connection-level setting.

Answer 5

Create a PreparedStatement with the query string; if this works, the query string is ok (but nothing is executed yet)