Posted by Water Cooler v2 on 04/11/06 12:49

I've not touched SQL server programming since 1999. I have very little
memory of it and need some clarifications on some basic questions that
I could even use a book for. Until I get myself a good book, someone
please help me with the answers:


1) What are SQL functions and how are they different from stored
procedures? Do both of the programming objects not achieve the same
thing? What was the need of having one in addition to the other?

2) How do we use an "if construct"/if clause within a SQL statement?
Can we use conditional checking with the if construct within a stored
procedure? Can you please post a trivial example of a stored procedure
with an if clause?

3) Stored procedures can have input parameters as well as output
parameters. Can they also have in/out parameters that are like "by
reference" parameters? What's the syntax on Microsoft's T-SQL version?

4) How does one check the return value of a stored procedure?


Thanks for helping out.

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