Sql Server temporary table disappears

I'm creating a temporary table, #ua_temp, which is a subset of regular table. I don't get an error, but when I try to SELECT from #ua_temp in the second step, it's not found. If I remove the #, a table named ua_temp is created.

I've used the exact same tec开发者_开发技巧hnique from created the table with SELECT INTO elsewhere. It runs fine, so I don't think it has anything to do with database settings. Can anyone see the problem?

        // Create temporary table 
        q = new StringBuilder(200);
        q.Append("select policy_no, name, amt_due, due_date, hic, grp, eff_dt, lis_prem, lis_grp, lis_co_pay_lvl, ");
        q.Append("lep_prem, lapsed, dn_code, [filename], created_dt, created_by ");
        q.Append("into #ua_temp from elig_ua_response ");
        q.Append("where [filename] = @fn1 or [filename] = @fn2 ");
        sc = new SqlCommand(q.ToString(), db);
        sc.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@fn1", sFn));
        sc.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@fn2", sFn2));
        int r = sc.ExecuteNonQuery();
        MessageBox.Show(r.ToString() + " rows");

        // Rosters
        q = new StringBuilder(200);
        q.Append("select policy_no,name,amt_due,due_date,hic,grp,eff_dt,");
        q.Append("lis_prem,lis_grp,lis_co_pay_lvl,lep_prem,lapsed,dn_code,[filename] ");
        q.Append("from #ua_temp where (lis_prem > 0.00 or lep_prem > 0.00) ");
        q.Append("and [filename] = @fn order by name");
        sc.CommandText = q.ToString();
        sc.Parameters.Clear();
        sc.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@fn", sFn));
        sda = new SqlDataAdapter(sc);
        sda.Fill(ds, "LIS LEP Roster");

To answer some of the obvious questions: This program was running fine using the source table, elig_ua_response. The reason for introducing the temp table was that I want to delete some of the rows for this particular report. I put brackets around the column [filename] while testing to be sure it's not a key word issue. The second SELECT works fine if you replace #ua_temp with elig_ua_response. I've tried different names for the temp table. The MessageBox showing the number of rows was just for debugging purposes; it doesn't affect the problem.

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Joe Zack's comment is what helped me understand what's happening here. A very clear and concise explanation. This should be an answer so that it's more visible to people arriving here from a google search.

SqlCommand calls sql with parameters via sp_executesql when there are parameters, which means your temp table gets created inside (and then clean up in) a stored procedure so it's not available to future calls - even when they share the same connection

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I think the solution to your problem is to combine the creation of the temp table and selecting from that temp table into one query (see code snippet #3 below). Executing the command twice (as you do in the code in your question) seems to work ok if you are not using command parameters, but fails if they are introduced. I tested a few different approaches and here's what I found.

1) WORKS OK: Use same command object, no command parameters, execute command twice:

using (var conn = new SqlConnection("..."))
{
    conn.Open();
    using (var cmd = conn.CreateCommand())
    {
        const string query = @"
            CREATE TABLE #temp 
                ([ID] INT NOT NULL, [Name] VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL)
            INSERT INTO #temp VALUES(1, 'User 1')
            INSERT INTO #temp VALUES(2, 'User 2')";
        cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
        cmd.CommandText = query;
        cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();

        cmd.CommandText = "SELECT * FROM #temp";
        using (var sda = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd))
        {
            var ds = new DataSet();
            sda.Fill(ds);
            foreach (DataRow row in ds.Tables[0].Rows)
                Console.WriteLine("{0} - {1}", row["ID"], row["Name"]);
        }
    }
}

2) FAILS: Use same command object, command parameters, execute command twice:

using (var conn = new SqlConnection("..."))
{
    conn.Open();
    using (var cmd = conn.CreateCommand())
    {
        const string query = @"
            CREATE TABLE #temp 
                ([ID] INT NOT NULL, [Name] VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL)
            INSERT INTO #temp VALUES(1, @username1)
            INSERT INTO #temp VALUES(2, @username2)
        ";
        cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
        cmd.CommandText = query;
        cmd.Parameters.Add("@username1", SqlDbType.VarChar).Value ="First User";
        cmd.Parameters.Add("@username2", SqlDbType.VarChar).Value ="Second User";
        cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();

        cmd.Parameters.Clear();
        cmd.CommandText = "SELECT * FROM #temp";
        using(var sda = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd))
        {
            var ds = new DataSet();
            sda.Fill(ds);
            foreach(DataRow row in ds.Tables[0].Rows)
                Console.WriteLine("{0} - {1}", row["ID"], row["Name"]);
        }
    }
}

3) WORKS OK: Use same command object, command parameters, execute command once only:

using (var conn = new SqlConnection("..."))
{
    conn.Open();
    using (var cmd = conn.CreateCommand())
    {
        const string query = @"
            CREATE TABLE #temp 
                ([ID] INT NOT NULL, [Name] VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL)
            INSERT INTO #temp VALUES(1, @username1)
            INSERT INTO #temp VALUES(2, @username2)
            SELECT * FROM #temp
        ";
        cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
        cmd.CommandText = query;
        cmd.Parameters.Add("@username1", SqlDbType.VarChar).Value ="First User";
        cmd.Parameters.Add("@username2", SqlDbType.VarChar).Value ="Second User";
        using (var sda = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd))
        {
            var ds = new DataSet();
            sda.Fill(ds);
            foreach (DataRow row in ds.Tables[0].Rows)
                Console.WriteLine("{0} - {1}", row["ID"], row["Name"]);
        }
    }
}

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This works. Apparently, if the SqlParameters are in the step that creates the table, the table is not left behind for the next step. Once the table is created, the SqlParameters can be used in a separate step for the INSERT.

        // Create temporary file dropping members from termed groups.
        q = new StringBuilder(500);
        q.Append("create table #ua_param ");
        q.Append("([ID] int not null, fn varchar(50) not null) ");
        sc = new SqlCommand(q.ToString(), db);
        sc.ExecuteNonQuery();

        q = new StringBuilder(500);
        q.Append("insert into #ua_param values(1,@fn1) ");
        q.Append("insert into #ua_param values(2,@fn2) ");
        sc = new SqlCommand(q.ToString(), db);
        sc.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@fn1", sFn));
        sc.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@fn2", sFn2));
        sc.ExecuteNonQuery();

        q = new StringBuilder(500);
        q.Append("select policy_no, name, amt_due, due_date, hic, grp, eff_dt, lis_prem, lis_grp, lis_co_pay_lvl, ");
        q.Append("lep_prem, lapsed, dn_code, [filename], created_dt, created_by ");
        q.Append("into #ua_temp from elig_ua_response inner join #ua_param on [filename] = fn ");
        sc.Parameters.Clear();
        sc.CommandText = q.ToString();
        sc.CommandTimeout = 1800;
        sc.ExecuteNonQuery();

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Its because the temp table is just that. Temporary. You might consider doing your operations in a stored procedure.

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Beyond rolling it into a stored procedure as suggested by @Daniel A White, you can look at BOL article and search for global temporary tables. Also a brief write up on Temporary Tables. Either approach should keep the temporary table alive.

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I had the same problem. I tried the SeaDrive solution and it works, however my tests make me believe that the query execution "flushes" something between "ADO.NET/SQLDriver" and the MS SQL Server.

So, you need to isolate the "CREATE TABLE" statement and submit it to the database before to use it with "INSERT INTO". Composed commands joining CREATE and INSERT in one unique statement doesn't work, unless you can give up the parameters.

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#TEMP tables only are accessible within the same session or SPID. So if you want to reuse it you need to reuse the connection you used to generate it.

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Working example with Dapper:

using (var conn = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
{
    conn.Open();
    var expected = Guid.NewGuid();

    // creating the temp table with NO PARAMETERS PASSED IN is the key part.
    conn.Execute("CREATE TABLE #MyTemp (ID UNIQUEIDENTIFIER NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY);");

    // now that the temp table is created, you can run queries with params as
    // much as you want.
    conn.Execute("INSERT INTO #MyTemp (ID) VALUES (@ID)", new { ID = expected });

    var actual = conn.Query<Guid>("SELECT ID FROM #MyTemp;").Single();

    Assert.Equal(expected, actual); // proof it worked
}

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Using a stored proc makes sense for this sort of thing.

If for some reason that's not feasible, then make sure you are using the same connection for the temp table creation as you are for the temp table selection, else the temp table won't be visible. (it might be that you have this issue randomly if you're using connection pooling.) Alternately, use a real, physical table or even a global temp table (##global_tmp vs #local_tmp), but in either case you'll need to devise a scheme/protocol such that multiple processes aren't trying to create/delete/write to that table.

Again, I'll stress that a stored proc would be a good route, if possible.