How to SELECT INTO tableB which name is @tableB * FROM @tableA?

Question

I am creating a stored procedure which has to create a table which name depends on input variable. For temporary results I have declared a table variable:

declare @tableA TABLE(
column1,
column2,
..
)

The output table name depends on the user's input so I have declared another variable

declare @tableB varchar = ...

In the end the temporary results have to be stored into table which name is @tableB so in the stored procedure I have tried to write the following statement:

declare @sql varchar(max)
set @sql = 'SELECT * INTO ' + @tableB + ' FROM @tableA'
exec(@sql)

which is not correct. Does anyone know how to insert values from table variable into table which name is variable?

Answer 1

You can't use table variables here, try to use temporary tables. create table #tableA( ...

For more information: link text

create table #A( c1 int, c2 int );

insert into #A values (1,2);

insert into #A values (3,4);

declare @sql varchar(max);

declare @tableB sysname = '##tableB';

set @sql = 'SELECT * INTO ' + @tableB + ' FROM #A';

Print @sql;

exec (@sql);

go

select * from ##tableB;

Answer 2

Assuming @tableB already exists, first guess would be to try:

SET @sql =
    'INSERT
    (
        col1,
        col2
    )
    INTO ' + @tableB + ' 
    SELECT 
    (
        col1, 
        col2
    )
    FROM
        @tableA'

This isn't syntax-checked, so watch out!

If @tableB doesn't exist, why does its name need to come from the user?