User Defined Function Return value

Hello all I have a function:

ALTER FUNCTION [dbo].[getContentURL]
(
    @VID    int,
    @accountID int
)
RETURNS VARCHAR(500)
AS
BEGIN

DECLARE @cTable varchar(50) = '[CONTENT_CONNECT].[dbo].CONTENT_' + CONVERT(varchar(5),@accountID)
    DECLARE @vTable varchar(50) = '[CONTENT_CONNECT].[dbo].VERSION_' + CONVERT(varchar(5),@accountID)
DECLARE @sql VARCHAR(max) =  ''
DECLARE @RETURN VARCHAR(500)
DECLARE @ParmDefinition VARCHAR(500)
 SET @sql = '
    DECLARE @CompanyID int
    DECLARE @RETURN VARCHAR(500)
    DECLARE @ProjectNumber int
    DECLARE @ContentID int
    DECLARE @VersionNumber int
    DECLARE @FileName varchar(400)
  select @VersionNumber= V.Number,@ContentID= V.ContentID,@ProjectNumber=P.Number,@FileName=C.Name,@CompanyID=P.CompanyID 
    from ' + @vTable + ' V 
    inner join' + @cTable + ' C on V.ContentID=C.ID
    inner join Project P on C.ProjectID=P.ID where V.VID='+convert(varchar,@VID)+'

 select ''/''+Convert(varchar,@CompanyID)+''/''+Convert(varchar,@ProjectNumber)+''/''+Convert(varchar,@ContentID)+''/''+Convert(varchar,@VersionNumber)+''/''+@FileName'

 SET @ParmDefinition = N'@RETURN VARCHAR(500) OUTPUT'
    exec sp_executesql @sql, @ParmDefinition,  @RETURN OUTPUT
  set @RETURN=(select @RETURN)
 RETURN @RETURN
END

but when I execute this function

select  dbo.getContentURL(177,1)

this gives error:

The name 'select --------------------' is not a valid identifier.

how to return this executed value? can any one help me please?

I can't say that I understand what it is that You are trying to do...

The thing is, just like You have already been told, that You can't use Dynamic SQL in a Function.

Using a Stored Procedure will solve the problem You encountered:

(I did not try to find another logic to retrieving the same data, which is possible, I just converted Your Function to a Stored Procedure)

CREATE PROC [dbo].[usp_getContentURL] 
(@VID INT, @accountID INT) 
AS 
DECLARE @cTable varchar(50) = '[CONTENT_CONNECT].[dbo].CONTENT_' + CONVERT(varchar(5),@accountID)
DECLARE @vTable varchar(50) = '[CONTENT_CONNECT].[dbo].VERSION_' + CONVERT(varchar(5),@accountID)
DECLARE @sql VARCHAR(max) =  '' 
SET @sql = ' 
DECLARE @CompanyID int
DECLARE @ProjectNumber int
DECLARE @ContentID int
DECLARE @VersionNumber int
DECLARE @FileName varchar(400)
select @VersionNumber=V.Number, @ContentID=V.ContentID, @ProjectNumber=P.Number, @FileName=C.Name, @CompanyID=P.CompanyID
from ' + @vTable + ' V
inner join' + @cTable + ' C on V.ContentID=C.ID
inner join Project P on C.ProjectID=P.ID 
where V.VID='+convert(varchar,@VID)+' 
select ''/''+Convert(varchar,@CompanyID)
+''/''+Convert(varchar,@ProjectNumber)
+''/''+Convert(varchar,@ContentID)
+''/''+Convert(varchar,@VersionNumber)
+''/''+@FileName'

EXEC (@sql)
GO

If this does not meet Your needs please post what exactly You are trying to do.

Good Luck,

Roi

StackExchange Database Administrators Q#24023, answer score: 2