Can SQL column alias be an expression?

you can't use an expression for an alias

Hello,

This can be achieved by use of dynamic SQL. See below:

declare @alias varchar(100),
     @sql varchar(1000)

--Example: Dynamic heading
set @alias = 'Since ' + convert (varchar, GetDate() - 7, 101)
set @sql = 'Select GetDate() as [' + @alias + ']'
exec (@sql)

--Example: Multi-line Dynamic heading
set @alias = 'Since ' + char(13) + char(10) + convert (varchar, GetDate() - 7, 101)
set @sql = 'Select GetDate() as [' + @alias + ']'
exec (@sql)

Select allOpen in new window

Thanks,
Harish

Harish

Works great as a script, thanks.  Is there any way to use the code in an SQL View?

you can't use it in a view

you can try to create a user function with that code,
and then create a  view that queries the user function

Since column names are created when viiew is created, it will not be possible to use a view instead of dynamic sql.

If you can explain your scenario in detail, we can think about possible solutions. Another approach can be to create a table dynamically with required dynamic column names (again using dynamic sql), populate this table with your current SELECT (from table/view), and then do a SELECT from this dynamically created table.

Thanks,
Harish

I just have to provide some counts, total and total for the past 7 days, on an as-needed basis.  The easiest solution was to provide an Excel query that retrieves the data from a view I created, as opposed to writing a full app unnecessarily.  Presently, the view returns a column heading of 'Last Week', as i mentioned, I would prefer to have it read the equivilent of 'Since' + GetDate() - 7.

Now, if there were some way the Excel query could launch a script or stored procedure (that could create the table as you noted), then that might work.

Harish

Looks like we have a winner.  Either solution looks pretty viable.  Thanks for your help.