SQL Views - no variables?

Question

Is it possible to declare a variable within a View? For example:

Declare @SomeVar varchar(8) = \'something\'

gives me the syntax error:

Answer 1

You are correct. Local variables are not allowed in a VIEW.

You can set a local variable in a table valued function, which returns a result set (like a view does.)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191165.aspx

e.g.

CREATE FUNCTION dbo.udf_foo()
RETURNS @ret TABLE (col INT)
AS
BEGIN
  DECLARE @myvar INT;
  SELECT @myvar = 1;
  INSERT INTO @ret SELECT @myvar;
  RETURN;
END;
GO
SELECT * FROM dbo.udf_foo();
GO

Answer 2

@datenstation had the correct concept. Here is a working example that uses CTE to cache variable's names:

CREATE VIEW vwImportant_Users AS
WITH params AS (
    SELECT 
    varType='%Admin%', 
    varMinStatus=1)
SELECT status, name 
    FROM sys.sysusers, params
    WHERE status > varMinStatus OR name LIKE varType

SELECT * FROM vwImportant_Users

also via JOIN

WITH params AS ( SELECT varType='%Admin%', varMinStatus=1)
SELECT status, name 
    FROM sys.sysusers INNER JOIN params ON 1=1
    WHERE status > varMinStatus OR name LIKE varType

also via CROSS APPLY

WITH params AS ( SELECT varType='%Admin%', varMinStatus=1)
SELECT status, name 
    FROM sys.sysusers CROSS APPLY params
    WHERE status > varMinStatus OR name LIKE varType