If I execute
exec sp_executesql N'sp_helpindex N''[dbo].[authors]'''

within EM/Mgmt Studio, this statement runs fine. If I try and parameterize
it, like this:
exec sp_executesql N'sp_helpindex N''@QualifiedTableName''',
N'@QualifiedTableName nvarchar(15)', @QualifiedTableName =
N'[dbo].[authors]'

I get
Server: Msg 170, Level 15, State 1, Line 1
Line 1: Incorrect syntax near 'sp_helpindex'.

I tried different variations, but nothing seemed to work. Is it not possible
to have a parameter within a string like this?

Thanks,

Johnny.

Johnny Ortega wrote:
Show quoteHide quoteYou'll have to use dynamic SQL to do this...  Build the command as a
string, and then execute the string using EXEC

Tracy McKibben (tr***@realsqlguy.com) writes:
Looks to me that Johnny is already using dynamic SQL....

Johnny Ortega (john.ort***@quest.com) writes:
Show quoteHide quoteApparently you must specify EXEC when you have a parameter. Keep in
mind that in

   sp_helpindex N'[dbo].[authors]'

There is an implicit EXEC when the first token of a batch is an identifier.
This fails:

   sp_helpindex N'[dbo].[authors]'
   sp_helpindex N'[dbo].[titles]'

Here you must specify EXEC for the second call to sp_helpindex.

Really why you have to specify EXEC when you add a parameter, I don't
know. I am a little puzzled myself. But since best practice is to always
include EXEC, I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

Once you have added EXEC, you will run into the next snag, but I leave
it do you as an exercise to find out what the problem is.

....and a final remark, is that it is much simpler to say:

   EXEC sp_helpindex @QualifiedTableName

little point in using dynamic SQL.

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