PRB: Using Datetime Variable w/ WAITFOR TIME or WAITFOR DELAY

ID Number: Q50209

1.10 1.11 4.20

OS/2

Summary:

SYMPTOMS

Neither WAITFOR TIME nor WAITFOR DELAY will accept a variable for

the "time" parameter.

CAUSE

This is a limitation of SQL, and currently there are no plans to

modify this behavior.

RESOLUTION

If you try to use a datetime variable with WAITFOR TIME or WAITFOR

DELAY, as the following sequence of ISQL statements attempt, you

receive a syntax error on line 3, referring to the variable "@i".

There is no way to work around this limitation. You must use a

constant value, as demonstrated in the second example listed

below.

The following sequence of statements generates a syntax error on

line 3:

1>DECLARE @i datetime

2>SELECT @i="02:25"

3>WAITFOR TIME @i

4>GO

The following sequence of statements works correctly:

1>WAITFOR TIME "02:25"

2>GO

Additional reference words: Transact-SQL