[tsql] Using a cursor with dynamic SQL in a stored procedure

I have a dynamic SQL statement I've created in a stored procedure. I need to iterate over the results using a cursor. I'm having a hard time figuring out the right syntax. Here's what I'm doing.

SELECT @SQLStatement = 'SELECT userId FROM users'

DECLARE @UserId

DECLARE users_cursor CURSOR FOR
EXECUTE @SQLStatment --Fails here. Doesn't like this

OPEN users_cursor
FETCH NEXT FROM users_cursor
INTO @UserId

WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
BEGIN

EXEC asp_DoSomethingStoredProc @UserId

END
CLOSE users_cursor
DEALLOCATE users_cursor

What's the right way to do this?

This code is a very good example for a dynamic column with a cursor, since you cannot use '+' in @STATEMENT:

ALTER PROCEDURE dbo.spTEST
AS
    SET NOCOUNT ON
    DECLARE @query NVARCHAR(4000) = N'' --DATA FILTER
    DECLARE @inputList NVARCHAR(4000) = ''
    DECLARE @field sysname = '' --COLUMN NAME
    DECLARE @my_cur CURSOR
    EXECUTE SP_EXECUTESQL
        N'SET @my_cur = CURSOR FAST_FORWARD FOR
            SELECT
                CASE @field
                    WHEN ''fn'' then fn
                    WHEN ''n_family_name'' then n_family_name
                END
            FROM
                dbo.vCard
            WHERE
                CASE @field
                    WHEN ''fn'' then fn
                    WHEN ''n_family_name'' then n_family_name
                END
                LIKE ''%''+@query+''%'';
            OPEN @my_cur;',
        N'@field sysname, @query NVARCHAR(4000), @my_cur CURSOR OUTPUT',
        @field = @field,
        @query = @query,
        @my_cur = @my_cur OUTPUT
    FETCH NEXT FROM @my_cur INTO @inputList
    WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
    BEGIN
        PRINT @inputList
        FETCH NEXT FROM @my_cur INTO @inputList
    END
    RETURN

After recently switching from Oracle to SQL Server (employer preference), I notice cursor support in SQL Server is lagging. Cursors are not always evil, sometimes required, sometimes much faster, and sometimes cleaner than trying to tune a complex query by re-arranging or adding optimization hints. The "cursors are evil" opinion is much more prominent in the SQL Server community.

So I guess this answer is to switch to Oracle or give MS a clue.

• Oracle EXECUTE IMMEDIATE into a cursor
• Loop through an implicit cursor (a for loop implicitly defines/opens/closes the cursor!)

Another option in SQL Server is to do all of your dynamic querying into table variable in a stored proc, then use a cursor to query and process that. As to the dreaded cursor debate :), I have seen studies that show that in some situations, a cursor can actually be faster if properly set up. I use them myself when the required query is too complex, or just not humanly (for me ;) ) possible.

Working with a non-relational database (IDMS anyone?) over an ODBC connection qualifies as one of those times where cursors and dynamic SQL seems the only route.

select * from a where a=1 and b in (1,2)

takes 45 minutes to respond while re-written to use keysets without the in clause will run in under 1 second:

select * from a where (a=1 and b=1)
union all
select * from a where (a=1 and b=2)

If the in statement for column B contains 1145 rows, using a cursor to create indidivudal statements and execute them as dynamic SQL is far faster than using the in clause. Silly hey?

And yes, there's no time in a relational database that cursor's should be used. I just can't believe I've come across an instance where a cursor loop is several magnitudes quicker.

this code can be useful for you.

example of cursor use in sql server

DECLARE sampleCursor CURSOR FOR 
      SELECT K.Id FROM TableA K WHERE ....;
OPEN sampleCursor
FETCH NEXT FROM sampleCursor INTO @Id
WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS <> -1
BEGIN

UPDATE TableB
   SET 
      ...

There is another example which I would like to share with you
:D http://www.sommarskog.se/dynamic_sql.html#cursor0

First off, avoid using a cursor if at all possible. Here are some resources for rooting it out when it seems you can't do without:

There Must Be 15 Ways To Lose Your Cursors... part 1, Introduction

Row-By-Row Processing Without Cursor

That said, though, you may be stuck with one after all--I don't know enough from your question to be sure that either of those apply. If that's the case, you've got a different problem--the select statement for your cursor must be an actual SELECT statement, not an EXECUTE statement. You're stuck.

But see the answer from cmsjr (which came in while I was writing) about using a temp table. I'd avoid global cursors even more than "plain" ones....