SQL Server 2000 “Incorrect syntax near the keyword ‘CASE'”

sql-server-2000syntax-errortsql

The error is return when the following stored proc is attempted to be executed:

EXECUTE p_someProc
--list of vars
CASE WHEN @var1=1 AND @var2=1 THEN 3 
     WHEN @var2=1 THEN 2 
     WHEN @var1=1 THEN 1 END,
--more vars

There are other CASE functions included, though only a single error is spewed up which points to the first CASE.

When the identical expression is run within a PRINT function, an expected result is returned.

declare @var1 bit set @var1 = 1
declare @var2 bit set @var2 = 1

print(CASE WHEN @var1=1 AND @var2=1 THEN 3 
     WHEN @var1=1 THEN 2 
     WHEN @var2=1 THEN 1 END)

The output is '3'

I assume that I'm misusing the CASE function somehow. Could anyone think of a workaround or a way to fix it?

Thanks in advance.

–Stan

Best Answer

As JeremyMcGee alludes to above you need to perform an assignment rather than trying to pass the case to the exec, try something more like the following

Declare @varx int
select @varx = CASE WHEN @var1=1 AND @var2=1 THEN 3 
     WHEN @var2=1 THEN 2 
     WHEN @var1=1 THEN 1 END
EXECUTE p_someProc @varx

Syntax:

ALTER TABLE {TABLENAME} 
ADD {COLUMNNAME} {TYPE} {NULL|NOT NULL} 
CONSTRAINT {CONSTRAINT_NAME} DEFAULT {DEFAULT_VALUE}
WITH VALUES

Example:

ALTER TABLE SomeTable
        ADD SomeCol Bit NULL --Or NOT NULL.
 CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol --When Omitted a Default-Constraint Name is autogenerated.
    DEFAULT (0)--Optional Default-Constraint.
WITH VALUES --Add if Column is Nullable and you want the Default Value for Existing Records.

Notes:

Optional Constraint Name:
If you leave out CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol then SQL Server will autogenerate
a Default-Contraint with a funny Name like: DF__SomeTa__SomeC__4FB7FEF6

Optional With-Values Statement:
The WITH VALUES is only needed when your Column is Nullable
and you want the Default Value used for Existing Records.
If your Column is NOT NULL, then it will automatically use the Default Value
for all Existing Records, whether you specify WITH VALUES or not.

How Inserts work with a Default-Constraint:
If you insert a Record into SomeTable and do not Specify SomeCol's value, then it will Default to 0.
If you insert a Record and Specify SomeCol's value as NULL (and your column allows nulls),
then the Default-Constraint will not be used and NULL will be inserted as the Value.

Notes were based on everyone's great feedback below.
Special Thanks to:
@Yatrix, @WalterStabosz, @YahooSerious, and @StackMan for their Comments.

Sql – How to return only the Date from a SQL Server DateTime datatype

SELECT DATEADD(dd, 0, DATEDIFF(dd, 0, @your_date))

for example

SELECT DATEADD(dd, 0, DATEDIFF(dd, 0, GETDATE()))

gives me

2008-09-22 00:00:00.000

Pros:

No varchar<->datetime conversions required
No need to think about locale

Best Answer

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Sql – Add a column with a default value to an existing table in SQL Server

Syntax:

Example:

Notes:

Sql – How to return only the Date from a SQL Server DateTime datatype

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