Using Update, Delete and Insert Statements in a single Stored Procedure on SQL Server 2008 R2

Question

I have a scenario that requires me to firstly set a range of column values in a table to Null, then I add the logic to re-calculate the new NULL values with an Update statement following the previous Update statement. Lastly I run my final comparison script (within a cursor) which inserts the new values into a table.

Do I need to use the GO command between each major command?

Example:

Drop Table1

Update Table2
Set Col1=NULL,Col2=NULL

Insert into Table3 (Col1,Col2)

Is using a GO between each statement a requirement as sometimes this works but lately it's been giving me issues?

Thanks,

Answer 1

As mentioned above, GO is not an SQL syntax, but SSMS separator.

If you really need to perform all those actions in the single SP, you can use a dynamic SQL. The're two abilities to execute dynamic SQL in the SQL server" sp_executesql and execute (command) .

Additional information according to the dynamic SQL can be found here: http://www.sommarskog.se/dynamic_sql.html or here: http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/20815/Building-Dynamic-SQL-In-a-Stored-Procedure

In this case your script will be like following:

create proc myProc
as
declare @sql nvarchar(max);

set @sql = N'Drop Table1';
exec sp_executesql @sql;

set @sql = N'Update Table2
Set Col1=NULL,Col2=NULL';
exec sp_executesql @sql;

set @sql = N'Insert into Table3 (Col1,Col2)';
exec sp_executesql @sql;
go

But need to check if you really need to perform the above operations in the mentioned above manner...