Question

I have a table which stores a SQL predefined function, like CONVERT(VARCHAR(10), '2012-08-21 00:16:41.993', 101) in a row/column. While retrieving the result from table, it should run the function and give the final outcome as “2012-08-21”, instead right now it returns the same function statement. I am running select (select RunDate from RunDate) and using SQL server database.

Kindly help!!

Answer 1

You need to use dynamic SQL for this. You can’t just nest expressions and have SQL evaluate the output…

DECLARE @x TABLE(sql NVARCHAR(255));

INSERT @x(sql) SELECT N'CONVERT(VARCHAR(10), ''2012-08-21 00:16:41.993'', 101)';

DECLARE @sql NVARCHAR(MAX);

SELECT @sql = N'SELECT ' + sql FROM @x;

EXEC sp_executesql @sql;