====== EXECUTE Statement ======

EXECUTE (EXEC or EXECUTE IMMEDIATE) statement executes a dynamic SQL statement and can return the scalar result to local variables. 

You can also use this statement to call a stored procedure.

**Syntax:**

<code language=sql>
EXEC | EXECUTE | EXECUTE IMMEDIATE dynamic_sql_string [INTO var1, var2, ...];
|
EXEC | EXECUTE proc_name [parm1 = val1, ... ]
</code>

**Parameters:**

| **Parameter** | **Type** | **Value** | **Description** |
| dynamic_sql_string | VARCHAR | Variable or expression | Dynamic SQL to execute |
| INTO var1, var2, ... | Any | Variable | Variables to assign, optional |

**Notes**:

  * If the query returns more than 1 row and the INTO clause is specified, only the columns from the first row are used in assignment
  * If the statement returns 1 or more rows and the INTO clause is not specified, the result set data is sent to the standard output
  * EXEC, EXECUTE are EXECUTE IMMEDIATE synonyms

**Example:**

Return the result into a variable:

<code language=sql>
DECLARE cnt INT;
EXECUTE 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM db.orders' INTO cnt;
</code>

Execute a DML statement:

<code language=sql>
DECLARE tabname VARCHAR(100) DEFAULT 'tab1';
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE 'CREATE TABLE ' || tabname || ' (c1 INT)';
</code>

Print the results to standard output:

<code language=sql>
EXEC 'SELECT ''A'', ''B'' FROM dual';
</code>

Call a stored procedure:

<code language=sql>
ALTER PROCEDURE spOrders
  @lim INT
AS
  DECLARE @cnt INT = 0
  SELECT @cnt = COUNT(*) from src LIMIT @lim
  IF @cnt > 0
    SELECT * FROM src
GO

EXEC spOrders @lim = 3
</code>

**Compatibility:** Oracle, IBM DB2 and Microsoft SQL Server.

**Version:** 
  * HPL/SQL 0.3.11 - Execute a stored procedure
  * PL/HQL 0.01