SQL Server guide

List containers (tables)

Returns all containers (tables/collections) in the default database from the connection. Use to discover container names for SELECT or INSERT. For a different database, use the next example with WITH (Database='...').

Standard SQL query example

This is the base query accepted by the connector. To execute it in SQL Server, you have to pass it to the Data Gateway via a Linked Server. See how to accomplish this using the examples below.

SELECT * FROM SysTables

Using OPENQUERY in SQL Server

SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY([LS_TO_COSMOS_DB_IN_GATEWAY], 'SELECT * FROM SysTables')

Using EXEC in SQL Server (handling larger SQL text)

The major drawback of OPENQUERY is its inability to incorporate variables within SQL statements. This often leads to the use of cumbersome dynamic SQL (with numerous ticks and escape characters).

Fortunately, starting with SQL 2005 and onwards, you can utilize the EXEC (your_sql) AT [LS_TO_COSMOS_DB_IN_GATEWAY] syntax.

DECLARE @MyQuery NVARCHAR(MAX) = 'SELECT * FROM SysTables'
EXEC (@MyQuery) AT [LS_TO_COSMOS_DB_IN_GATEWAY]