Home Forums SQL Server 2005 T-SQL (SS2K5) procedure RE: procedure

  • January 31, 2009 at 9:10 pm

    #936104

    RBarryYoung (1/31/2009)

    alim.shaikh (1/31/2009)

    unfortunately, sql server doesn't provide array since it is not a full fledge programming language...

    This is incorrect on two counts. first, SQL is a "full-fledged" programming language. Really. Perhaps you meant to say that SQL is not a "general Purpose" programming language, which is true. SQL is a full-fledged special-purpose programming language.

    Secondly, SQL does have a data structure that is more than the functional equivalent of arrays. They are called "Tables" and they are the preferred way of storing and manipulating array-like data in SQL. You should only use other means to emulate arrays when a table will not work (usually for interfacing reasons).

    And actually, now there is a second data structure that is the functional equivalent of arrays and then some: XML. And there are at least six (6) other data types that can emulate them with varying degrees of difficulty. But I would say that tables are still preferred.

    "The Force is strong in this one."

    --Jeff Moden

    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

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    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
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