sql use statement with variable

Question

I\'m trying to switch the current database with a SQL statement. I have tried the following, but all attempts failed:

1. USE @DatabaseName
2. EXEC sp_sqlexe

Answer 1

You can do this:

Declare @dbName nvarchar(max);
SET @dbName = 'TESTDB';

Declare @SQL nvarchar(max);
select @SQL = 'USE ' + @dbName +'; {can put command(s) here}';
EXEC (@SQL);

{but not here!}

This means you can do a recursive select like the following:

Declare @dbName nvarchar(max);
SET @dbName = 'TESTDB';
Declare @SQL nvarchar(max);

SELECT @SQL = 'USE ' + @dbName + '; ' +(Select ... {query here}
For XML Path(''),Type)
.value('text()[1]','nvarchar(max)');

Exec (@SQL)