Cursors and variables

  • Hi,

    Im trying to use a variable within a cursor but I actually populate the variable after the cursor declaration and it doesn't appear to use the value. I created code for a sample as the code this is not working in is rather long and would be confusing if I posted it

    My question is ...

    Is this NORMAL behavior ?

    For example

    declare @tab_name varchar(200), @res_name varchar(200)

    --set @tab_name = 'sysowners' -- uncomment this line and the cursor will return a value

    --

    declare sample cursor for

    select name from sysobjects

    where lower(name) = lower(@tab_name)

    --

    set @tab_name = 'sysowners'

    open sample

    fetch sample into @res_name

    while @@fetch_status = 0

    begin

    print @res_name

    fetch sample into @res_name

    end

    close sample

    deallocate sample

  • Hi,

    Not sure if this is normal.

    I have never used a cursor in my life 🙂 (very happy about that)

    Do you have to use a cursor for this problem?

    Thanks

    Chris

    ----------------------------------------------
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  • I think you're misunderstanding what is going on. The DECLARE CURSOR does use the variable as it's defined at the time when the DECLARE is issued. Meaning - in programmer terminology - the DECLARE CURSOR sets up and initializes the cursor in one statement. There's no deferred resolution going on. The only thing that hasn't happened yet is that the cursor hasn't been materialized (which occurs with the OPEN statement).

    In this case you get nothing, since at the time of the declare - the variable is NULL.

    This is normal behavior and to be expected.

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