Question

Simple question: why does the top statement work, but the bottom one fails with

‘Incorrect syntax near (‘

Code:

USE [Research]
GO

DECLARE @d datetime 
SELECT @d = GETUTCDATE()

DECLARE @return_value int

EXEC    @return_value = [MyApp].[DateStamp]
        @date = @d

SELECT  'Return Value' = @return_value

GO

This one fails:

USE [Research]
GO 

DECLARE @return_value int

EXEC    @return_value = [MyApp].[DateStamp]
        @date = GETUTCDATE()

SELECT  'Return Value' = @return_value

GO

DateStamp is a proc that writes a bunch of stuff to a time dimension, like financial year, quarter etc.

Thanks.

Answer 1

why does the top statement work, but the bottom one fails

Assigning values to parameters in EXECUTE must be a value a variable or DEFAULT. GETUTCDATE() is an expression that needs to be evaluated.