You can't do what you want with Exec. Instead, try using the sp_executesql 
stored proc with output parameters. Something like this:

declare @params nvarchar(255)
declare @numContacts int

set @params = N'@n... int OUTPUT'

set @StrSQL = "SELECT @numContactsOUT = count(*) FROM TABLE_NAME where 
ContactID in (" + @contactIds + ")"

execute sp_executesql @StrSQL, @params, @numContactsOUT=@numContacts OUTPUT

-Lam

> 
Hi All,

Please let me know if we can store the value of the Exec SQLSTATEMENT to a 
variable.

Eg : 
DECLARE @StrSQL Varchar(200)
DECLARE @ContactIds Varchar(15)
SET @ContactIds="4,6,14"
Select @StrSQL="SELECT count(*) FROM TABLE_NAME where ContactID in (" + 
@ContactIds + ")"

This returns 3 as a result. I would like to check its output, if the 
result=0 then I will have to drop the plan of updating them, else I would 
continue to update there on.

I am looking for storing this Value into a variable or use it directly in 
IF statement and go accordingly. But from my search in BOL, I dont think 
we can either store them into Variable or use in IF statement directly.

Can anyone suggest me a way to go about it?

Thanks
-- Vijay G



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