Question

I want call function created in SQL Server, which receives two parameters and returns an integer. When I call stored procedure, I use the following code:

    sqlcmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
    sqlcmd.CommandText = "PROCEDURE_NAME"

    sqlcmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlClient.SqlParameter("@param1", Utilities.NothingToDBNull(user)))
    sqlcmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlClient.SqlParameter("@param2", Utilities.NothingToDBNull(password)))
    da = New SqlClient.SqlDataAdapter()
    da.SelectCommand = sqlcmd
    table = New DataTable()
    da.Fill(table)

In this case I have a table returned by the stored procedure. What changes if I want use a function that returns a scalar value instead of stored procedure?

Answer 1

You can’t call that function directly, only StoredProcedure, Text (query), and TableDirect are allowed. Since you are already exposed with stored procedure, why not create a procedure that has the function on it?

In your C# code, you can use the ExecuteScalar of your command object

sqlcmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
sqlcmd.CommandText = "PROCEDURE_NAME"
sqlcmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlClient.SqlParameter("@param1", Utilities.NothingToDBNull(user)))
sqlcmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlClient.SqlParameter("@param2", Utilities.NothingToDBNull(password)))

Dim obj as Object = sqlcmd.ExecuteScalar() 
' obj hold now the value from the stored procedure.

Your stored procedure should look like this now,

CREATE PROCEDURE PROCEDURE_NAME
    @param1 VARCHAR(15),
    @param2 VARCHAR(15)
AS
BEGIN
    SELECT function_name(@param1, @param2)
    FROM...
    WHERE....
END