SQL Server SELECT into existing table

sqlsql serverstored-procedurestsql

I am trying to select some fields from one table and insert them into an existing table from a stored procedure. Here is what I am trying:

SELECT col1, col2
INTO dbo.TableTwo 
FROM dbo.TableOne 
WHERE col3 LIKE @search_key

I think SELECT ... INTO ... is for temporary tables which is why I get an error that dbo.TableTwo already exists.

How can I insert multiple rows from dbo.TableOne into dbo.TableTwo?

Best Answer

SELECT ... INTO ... only works if the table specified in the INTO clause does not exist - otherwise, you have to use:

INSERT INTO dbo.TABLETWO
SELECT col1, col2
  FROM dbo.TABLEONE
 WHERE col3 LIKE @search_key

This assumes there's only two columns in dbo.TABLETWO - you need to specify the columns otherwise:

INSERT INTO dbo.TABLETWO
  (col1, col2)
SELECT col1, col2
  FROM dbo.TABLEONE
 WHERE col3 LIKE @search_key

Related Solutions

Sql – How to perform an IF…THEN in an SQL SELECT

The CASE statement is the closest to IF in SQL and is supported on all versions of SQL Server.

SELECT CAST(
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You only need to use the CAST operator if you want the result as a Boolean value. If you are happy with an int, this works:

SELECT CASE
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CASE statements can be embedded in other CASE statements and even included in aggregates.

SQL Server Denali (SQL Server 2012) adds the IIF statement which is also available in access (pointed out by Martin Smith):

SELECT IIF(Obsolete = 'N' or InStock = 'Y', 1, 0) as Saleable, * FROM Product

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

Syntax:

ALTER TABLE {TABLENAME} 
ADD {COLUMNNAME} {TYPE} {NULL|NOT NULL} 
CONSTRAINT {CONSTRAINT_NAME} DEFAULT {DEFAULT_VALUE}
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Example:

ALTER TABLE SomeTable
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Notes:

Optional Constraint Name:
If you leave out CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol then SQL Server will autogenerate
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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),
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Notes were based on everyone's great feedback below.
Special Thanks to:
@Yatrix, @WalterStabosz, @YahooSerious, and @StackMan for their Comments.