Create Table As in MSSQL

In Microsoft SQL Server, you can use the SELECT INTO statement to create a new table based on the result set of a query. This is similar to the CREATE TABLE AS statement in other database systems like Oracle.

Here's the syntax for SELECT INTO in SQL Server:

SELECT column1, column2, ...

INTO new_table_name

FROM existing_table_name;

Here's an example:

Let's say you have an existing table called Employees with columns EmployeeID, FirstName, LastName, Salary, and DepartmentID, and you want to create a new table called HighSalaryEmployees to store information about employees with a salary higher than $100,000.

You can use the SELECT INTO statement as follows:

SELECT EmployeeID, FirstName, LastName, Salary, DepartmentID

INTO HighSalaryEmployees

FROM Employees

WHERE Salary > 100000;

This statement will create a new table called HighSalaryEmployees with the same columns as the Employees table, and it will contain only the rows where the Salary column is greater than $100,000.

It's important to note that the new table created with SELECT INTO will not inherit constraints, indexes, triggers, or any other objects associated with the source table. You may need to recreate those objects on the new table if needed. Additionally, column data types and lengths will be inherited from the result set of the query, so it's important to ensure they are compatible with the data being inserted into the new table.

Here are five frequently asked questions about the SELECT INTO statement in Microsoft SQL Server (MS SQL):-

1. What is the Purpose of the SELECT INTO Statement in MS SQL?

   The SELECT INTO statement in MS SQL is used to create a new table based on the result set of a query. It selects data from one or more tables and inserts it into a new table. This statement is useful for creating temporary or permanent tables with specific data derived from existing tables.

2. What is the Syntax of the SELECT INTO Statement in MS SQL?

   The basic syntax of the SELECT INTO statement in MS SQL is:

   sql

   SELECT column1, column2, ...

   INTO new_table

   FROM existing_table

   WHERE conditions;

   

   This statement selects columns from existing_table based on the specified conditions and inserts the result set into a new table named new_table.

3. Can I Create a Table Using SELECT INTO Without Specifying an Existing Table?

   Yes, similar to Oracle's CREATE TABLE AS SELECT, you can create a table in MS SQL using the SELECT INTO statement without specifying an existing table. Instead, you directly specify the columns and their data from one or more tables or views.

4. Does SELECT INTO Copy Constraints, Indexes, and Triggers?

   No, the SELECT INTO statement in MS SQL only copies the data from the source table or query result. It does not copy constraints, indexes, triggers, or any other database objects associated with the source tables. You would need to recreate these separately if required.

5. What Permissions Are Required to Use SELECT INTO?

   To use the SELECT INTO statement in MS SQL, the user needs appropriate permissions to create tables in the database where the new table will be created. Additionally, if the statement involves selecting data from existing tables, the user needs permissions to read from those tables. Depending on the privileges granted, users may also need permissions to create objects in the database.