Sqlcmd mode from SSMS - setvar assignment to override variable possible?

Question

I am running this from SSMS 2008R2 with SQLCMD mode enabled.

With the code below:

:SETVAR GREETING "HELLO"
:SETVAR SALUTATION $(GREETING)

SELECT '$(GREETING)'
SELECT '$(SALUTATION)'

I see the following in the results:

HELLO
$(GREETING)

I was hoping to see:

HELLO
HELLO

Is there a way to have a script variable while assigning to another script variable? If so, what's the syntax?

0

Jerome 01 nov. 12 at 18:20

2 answers

You can also do the opposite if you need:

DECLARE @firstVar VARCHAR(30) = 'theUltimateValue';

:setvar secondValue @firstVar

select $(secondValue) as whatIReallyWant

Returns

whatIReallyWant
------------------------------
theUltimateValue

0

JakeMc 12 Mar 14 at 23:54

lucazav · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-12T21:50:25+0000

variable substitution in: SETVAR does not work, because in this case it is just a token substitution.

You can mimic the behavior you expect with the following:

:SETVAR GREETING "HELLO"

DECLARE @salutation VARCHAR(5) = $(GREETING);
SELECT @salutation;

Sincerely.