Do while loop in SQL Server 2008

If you are not very offended by the GOTO keyword, it can be used to simulate a DO / WHILE in T-SQL. Consider the following rather nonsensical example written in pseudocode:

SET I=1
DO
 PRINT I
 SET I=I+1
WHILE I<=10

Here is the equivalent T-SQL code using goto:

DECLARE @I INT=1;
START:                -- DO
  PRINT @I;
  SET @I+=1;
IF @I<=10 GOTO START; -- WHILE @I<=10

Notice the one to one mapping between the GOTO enabled solution and the original DO / WHILE pseudocode. A similar implementation using a WHILE loop would look like:

DECLARE @I INT=1;
WHILE (1=1)              -- DO
 BEGIN
  PRINT @I;
  SET @I+=1;
  IF NOT (@I<=10) BREAK; -- WHILE @I<=10
 END

Now, you could of course rewrite this particular example as a simple WHILE loop, since this is not such a good candidate for a DO / WHILE construct. The emphasis was on example brevity rather than applicability, since legitimate cases requiring a DO / WHILE are rare.

---

REPEAT / UNTIL, anyone (does NOT work in T-SQL)?

SET I=1
REPEAT
  PRINT I
  SET I=I+1
UNTIL I>10

... and the GOTO based solution in T-SQL:

DECLARE @I INT=1;
START:                    -- REPEAT
  PRINT @I;
  SET @I+=1;
IF NOT(@I>10) GOTO START; -- UNTIL @I>10

Through creative use of GOTO and logic inversion via the NOT keyword, there is a very close relationship between the original pseudocode and the GOTO based solution. A similar solution using a WHILE loop looks like:

DECLARE @I INT=1;
WHILE (1=1)       -- REPEAT
 BEGIN
  PRINT @I;
  SET @I+=1;
  IF @I>10 BREAK; -- UNTIL @I>10
 END

An argument can be made that for the case of the REPEAT / UNTIL, the WHILE based solution is simpler, because the if condition is not inverted. On the other hand it is also more verbose.

If it wasn't for all of the disdain around the use of GOTO, these might even be idiomatic solutions for those few times when these particular (evil) looping constructs are necessary in T-SQL code for the sake of clarity.

Use these at your own discretion, trying not to suffer the wrath of your fellow developers when they catch you using the much maligned GOTO.

I am not sure about DO-WHILE IN MS SQL Server 2008 but you can change your WHILE loop logic, so as to USE like DO-WHILE loop.

Examples are taken from here: http://blog.sqlauthority.com/2007/10/24/sql-server-simple-example-of-while-loop-with-continue-and-break-keywords/

1. Example of WHILE Loop

   DECLARE @intFlag INT
   SET @intFlag = 1
   WHILE (@intFlag <=5)
   BEGIN
       PRINT @intFlag
       SET @intFlag = @intFlag + 1
   END
   GO
   

   ResultSet:

   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   

2. Example of WHILE Loop with BREAK keyword

   DECLARE @intFlag INT
   SET @intFlag = 1
   WHILE (@intFlag <=5)
   BEGIN
       PRINT @intFlag
       SET @intFlag = @intFlag + 1
       IF @intFlag = 4
           BREAK;
   END
   GO
   

   ResultSet:

   1
   2
   3
   

3. Example of WHILE Loop with CONTINUE and BREAK keywords

   DECLARE @intFlag INT
   SET @intFlag = 1
   WHILE (@intFlag <=5)
   BEGIN
       PRINT @intFlag
       SET @intFlag = @intFlag + 1
       CONTINUE;
       IF @intFlag = 4 -- This will never executed
           BREAK;
   END
   GO
   

   ResultSet:

   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   

But try to avoid loops at database level. Reference.