Question

In Oracle, we can write anonymous blocks for quick testing of logic without having to store the object on the database.

Does SQL Server support anonymous blocks? I tried google, but it mostly returns links for oracle.

Answer 1

You use SSMS to test any “block” of T-SQL without creating any sort of object (stored procedure or function). Just declare your variables, if you need any, and wirte your code.

For example if this is the stored you want to test

USE [MyDatabase]
GO
SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO
SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO

ALTER PROCEDURE [MySchema].[proc_modifySomething]
      @ID int
    , @Language char(2) = NULL
AS
BEGIN

    SET NOCOUNT ON;

    DECLARE @ITEMTYPE_EVENT varchar(2)      = 'J';  
    DECLARE @CURRENTDATE datetime           = GETDATE();

You should instead write:

DECLARE
      @ID int
    , @Language char(2) = NULL
BEGIN

    SET NOCOUNT ON;

    DECLARE @ITEMTYPE_EVENT varchar(2)      = 'J';  
    DECLARE @CURRENTDATE datetime           = GETDATE();