SQL Puzzle | Have you ever used SELECT TOP 0 ? – Multiple ways to create a new table from existing | SQL Interview Question

In this puzzle you have to create a new table without data from an existing table. You do not have to copy the data. You just have to copy the table structure. Below are the multiple methods to create a new table from an existing one. Please see the sample input data and the expected output.

Sample Input

–Existing table

Expected Output

— New table

Script – DDL and INSERT Sample Data

--

CREATE TABLE getDoublePercentages
(
	 Id INT
	,Val VARCHAR(10)
)
GO

INSERT INTO getDoublePercentages VALUES 
(1,'Pa%'),
(2,'Pa%%an'),
(3,'Pa%%'),
(4,'Pa%%%'),
(5,'P%')
GO

INSERT INTO getDoublePercentages VALUES (6,'Pa%%%%an')
GO

SELECT * FROM getDoublePercentages
GO

--

SOLUTION 1 | Using SELECT * INTO …WHERE 1=2

--

SELECT * INTO p FROM getDoublePercentages WHERE 1 = 2

--

OUTPUT – 1 | SOLUTION 1 | Using SELECT * INTO …WHERE 1=2

--

Id          Val
----------- ----------

(0 rows affected)


--

SOLUTION 2 | Using SELECT TOP 0 * INTO …

--

SELECT TOP 0 * INTO p FROM getDoublePercentages

--

OUTPUT – 2 | Using SELECT TOP 0 * INTO …

--

Id          Val
----------- ----------

(0 rows affected)


--

Enjoy 🙂

Please add comment(s) if you have one or multiple solutions in mind. Thank You.

Pawan Khowal

Pawan is a SQL Server Developer. If you need any help in writing code/puzzle or training please email at – pawankkmr”AT”gmail.com. Meanwhile please go throgh the top pages from his blog.

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