SQL Server 2005 recursive query with loops in data - is it possible?

Question

I\'ve got a standard boss/subordinate employee table. I need to select a boss (specified by ID) and all his subordinates (and their subrodinates, etc). Unfortunately the rea

Answer 1

This is the code I used on a project to chase up and down hierarchical relationship trees.

User defined function to capture subordinates:

CREATE FUNCTION fn_UserSubordinates(@User_ID INT)
RETURNS @SubordinateUsers TABLE (User_ID INT, Distance INT) AS BEGIN
    IF @User_ID IS NULL
        RETURN

    INSERT INTO @SubordinateUsers (User_ID, Distance) VALUES ( @User_ID, 0)

    DECLARE @Distance INT, @Finished BIT
    SELECT @Distance = 1, @Finished = 0

    WHILE @Finished = 0
    BEGIN
        INSERT INTO @SubordinateUsers
            SELECT S.User_ID, @Distance
                FROM Users AS S
                JOIN @SubordinateUsers AS C
                    ON C.User_ID = S.Manager_ID
                LEFT JOIN @SubordinateUsers AS C2
                    ON C2.User_ID = S.User_ID
                WHERE C2.User_ID IS NULL
        IF @@RowCount = 0
            SET @Finished = 1

        SET @Distance = @Distance + 1
    END

    RETURN
END

User defined function to capture managers:

CREATE FUNCTION fn_UserManagers(@User_ID INT)
RETURNS @User TABLE (User_ID INT, Distance INT) AS BEGIN
    IF @User_ID IS NULL
        RETURN

    DECLARE @Manager_ID INT

    SELECT @Manager_ID = Manager_ID
    FROM UserClasses WITH (NOLOCK)
    WHERE User_ID = @User_ID

    INSERT INTO @UserClasses (User_ID, Distance)
        SELECT User_ID, Distance + 1
        FROM dbo.fn_UserManagers(@Manager_ID)

    INSERT INTO @User (User_ID, Distance) VALUES (@User_ID, 0)

    RETURN
END