Creating SQL table using Dynamic variable name

Question

I want to create backup SQL tables using variable names.

something along the lines of

DECLARE @SQLTable Varchar(20) 
SET @SQLTable = 'SomeTableName' + ' ' + '20100526' 
SELECT * INTO quotename(@SQLTable)
 FROM SomeTableName

but i'm getting

Incorrect syntax near '@SQLTable'.

It's just part of a small script for maintence so i don't have to worry about injections.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, you can't use bind variables for table names, column names, etc. IN this case you must generate dynamic SQL and use exec.

Answer 2

DECLARE @Script NVARCHAR(MAX);
SET @Script = N'SELECT * INTO SomeTableName_' + N'20100526' + N' FROM SomeTableName';
EXEC sp_executesql @Script

I've left the date separate as I assume you want to calculate it for every run.

Answer 3

DECLARE @MyTableName nvarchar(20);
DECLARE @DynamicSQL nvarchar(1000);

SET @MyTableName = "FooTable";


SET @DynamicSQL = N'SELECT * INTO ' + @MyTableName + ' FROM BarTable';

exec @DynamicSQL;

Answer 4

You should look into using synonyms:

-- Create a synonym for the Product table in AdventureWorks2008R2. CREATE SYNONYM MyProduct FOR AdventureWorks2008R2.Production.Product; GO

-- Query the Product table by using the synonym. USE tempdb; GO SELECT ProductID, Name FROM MyProduct WHERE ProductID < 5; GO

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms177544.aspx