Question

I have query which returns single value (i.e) count. I’m exceuting it using the stored procedure in the following way and using execute reader with dataset to get single value

CREATE PROCEDURE GetCnt
@EmpNo char(4)
AS
BEGIN
   SET NOCOUNT ON;
   Declare @Cnt int
   SELECT @Cnt = count(*)
   FROM employees
   WHERE EMPLNO = @EmpNo
      AND test = 'p'            

   BEGIN 
      SELECT @Cnt
   END
END

is this effcient way
or Do I need to use the execute.scalar() and return value directly from the query instead of assigning to @cnt
can any one advise me

Answer 1

You do not need to create the variable. You just need the following:

CREATE PROCEDURE GetCnt
@EmpNo char(4)
AS
BEGIN
   SET NOCOUNT ON;
   SELECT count(1)
   FROM employees
   WHERE EMPLNO = @EmpNo
      AND test = 'p'            
END

Since this is only one value being returned from the stored procedure, you will likely want to use ExecuteScalar()