Question

Hi I am using vs2008 making an asp.net.vb app. The following stored procedure resolutely insists on returning an integer. I on the other hand was hoping for, and expecting, a single name to be returned. Can anyone help amend the sp or describe what I need to do to get the result I desire.

ALTER PROCEDURE [dbo].[getusername]
(
@email varchar ,
@retvalue nvarchar (10)output
)
AS

SET NOCOUNT ON    

SELECT        myemailaddress
FROM            newtable
WHERE        (myemailaddress = @email)

Thanks for all and any help.

Answer 1

The return code for a stored procedure is always an integer. You can set it by using the Return statement in your procedure like so:

Return 9

There is no way to return anything other than an integer using the procedure’s return code. If you want to use your output parameter, you need to set it:

Select @retValue = somecolumn
From newTable
Where myemailaddress = @email

ADDITION

Here is a small test script:

Create Table dbo.NewTable ( MyEmailAddress varchar(30) not null Primary Key )

Insert dbo.NewTable(MyEmailAddress) Values('[e-mail]')
Insert dbo.NewTable(MyEmailAddress) Values('[e-mail]')
Insert dbo.NewTable(MyEmailAddress) Values('[e-mail]')
GO

Create Procedure dbo.GetUserName
    @Email varchar(30)
    , @RetValue nvarchar(10) OUTPUT
As

Set NoCount On;

Select @RetValue = Cast(MyEmailAddress As nvarchar(10))
From dbo.NewTable
Where MyEmailAddress = @Email

Return
GO

Declare @ProcValue nvarchar(10)

exec dbo.GetUserName '[e-mail]', @ProcValue OUTPUT
Select @ProcValue

exec dbo.GetUserName '[e-mail]', @ProcValue OUTPUT
Select @ProcValue

Perhaps you have a syntax error in your script?