:: symbols in SQL

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:: symbols in SQL

Rod Harten

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July 7, 2008 at 12:23 pm

#189215

What is the role of the :: symbols in SQL? I usually see them prior to function calls but they optional, at least in that context. Also, how did you find the information? Searches of google, Microsoft, BoL haven't yielded any useful info. Thanks,
Rod

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Matija Lah SSCertifiable Points: 6429 More actions · Answer 1

Invoking built-in user-defined functions:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa213008(SQL.80).aspx

The GRANT/DENY/REVOKE statements:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187965.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188338.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187728.aspx

Is that what you've been looking for?

ML

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Matija Lah, SQL Server MVP
http://milambda.blogspot.com

Rod Harten SSC-Addicted Points: 476 More actions · Answer 2

Yes, it does answer my question. Thank you.

Sorry for how long it took for me to reply. I was on vacation and must have accidently deleted or skipped the email notice of your reply when I returned and was working through the long list of emails in my In box.

Rod

Matija Lah SSCertifiable Points: 6429 More actions · Answer 3

I'm just glad I could help. 🙂

ML

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Matija Lah, SQL Server MVP
http://milambda.blogspot.com

Bob Pinella SSCommitted Points: 1737 More actions · Answer 4

Hello,

The :: syntax is also used to call the static Geometry and Geography data type methods. For instance:

Declare @test-2 Geometry

Set @test-2 = Geometry::Parse('LINESTRING(1 1, 3 3, 6 6)')

Select

@test-2 as RawFormat,

@test.ToString() as WKTFormat --Example of a Geometry/Geography instance method

Some additional examples can be seen in the below links:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb933823.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb933824.aspx

Bob Pinella

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 5

Rod Harten (7/7/2008)
What is the role of the :: symbols in SQL? I usually see them prior to function calls but they optional, at least in that context.

In SQL 2000 they were required in front of certain function names (::fn_dblog, ::fn_tracegettable, ...). In 2005 they are optional in that context.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

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