Using variables in SQL queries in asp.net (C#)

You can put (and should!) parameters into your SQL queries for the values in e.g. your WHERE clause - but you cannot parametrize stuff like your table name.

So I'd rewrite that query to be:

SELECT (list of columns)
FROM dbo.Actor
WHERE ActorName = @ActorName

and then pass in just the value for @ActorName.

If you need to do the same thing for directors, you'd have to have a second query

SELECT (list of columns)
FROM dbo.Directors
WHERE DirectorName = @DirectorName

Using parameters like this

• enhances security (prohibits SQL injection attacks!)
• enhances performance: the query plan for that query can be cached and reused for second, third runs

PS: the original problem in your setup is this: you don't have any space between the first occurence of your table name and the WHERE clause - thus you would get:

SELECT * FROM ActorWHERE ActorName ='.....'

If you really insist on concatenating together your SQL statement (I would NOT recommend it!), then you need to put a space between your table name and your WHERE !

Update: some resources for learning about parametrized queries in ADO.NET:

• The C# Station ADO.NET Tutorial / Lesson 06: Adding Parameters to Commands
• Using Parameterized Queries with the SqlDataSource

You shouldn't concatenate string to SQL, as this will open you up to SQL Injection attacks.

This is a rather long read about dynamic SQL, but worth reading to understand the risks and options.

You should be using parameterized queries instead, though the only way to use a table name as a parameter is to use dynamic SQL.

I urge you to change your approach regarding table names - this will lead to problems in the future - it is not maintainable and as I mentioned above, could open you to SQL Injection.

The error you are seeing is a result of the concatenation you are doing with the "Where " clause - you are missing a space before it. You are also adding a space after the ' in the parameter ending with "Name".

Your resulting string, using your example would be:

Select * from ActorWHERE ActorName =' some actor';

There is a blank missing and one too much:

searchTable + "Name =' "

should read

searchTable + " Name ='"

Beside that, use SQL parameters to prevent SQL injection.

string cmdText = "Select * from " + searchTable + " WHERE Name = '" +   searchValue + "'";