Retain the column name when you convert() in SQL

Question

If I have the SQL query:

select
    project.Employee,
    project.HoursQuantity,
    convert(varchar(10), project.EntryDate, 120)
from db.Project as project

It will return ProjectHours and HoursQuantity with the proper column name, but will return EntryDate as (No column name).

How do I fix this or rename the column so that a title will show up on the table returned to the user?

I thought the data would remain in the same column, but I guess it moves to a new column. I tried aliasing it and a couple of other things but it hasn't worked.

`..db.Project as project` `Alias` name should be short, simple and readable not the exact table name which is of no use. — Pரதீப், Jan 24 '17 at 15:14
@Prdp in a case sensitive system that is not the exact table name. :) — Sean Lange, Jan 24 '17 at 15:16

Tim Schmelter · Accepted Answer · 2017-01-24T15:13:04.650

8

Give it an alias with the same name

select
    project.Employee,
    project.HoursQuantity,
    convert(varchar(10), project.EntryDate, 120) as EntryDate
from db.Project as project

edited Jan 24 '17 at 15:13

answered Jan 24 '17 at 15:08

Tim Schmelter

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Did you see this `db.Project as project` ;) – Pரதீப் Jan 24 '17 at 15:13
I just put it as an example. That's not the actual code/aliasing I'm using. I used dbo.Project as p if that makes you feel better :P – Jake Steele Jan 24 '17 at 15:17

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 29 '20 at 18:43

0

My preferred method for column aliasing is alias = expression:

Bad Habits to Kick : Using AS instead of = for column aliases - Aaron Bertrand - 2012-01-23

select
    project.Employee,
    project.HoursQuantity,
    EntryDate = convert(varchar(10), project.EntryDate, 120)
from db.Project as project

Valid column alias methods:

select 1 as x;    -- #1
select x = 1;     -- #2
select 'x' = 1 ;  -- #3
select [x] = 1 ;  -- #4
select 1 x;       -- #5
select 1 as 'x';  -- #6
select 1 'x';     -- #7
select 1 as [x];  -- #8
select 1 [x];     -- #9

edited Jul 29 '20 at 18:43

Community

1
1

answered Jan 24 '17 at 16:40

SqlZim

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1

Why is using AS bad? I thought it was standard convention. – Jake Steele Jan 24 '17 at 18:53

Retain the column name when you convert() in SQL

2 Answers2