Temporary table meta data

[Former Member]

How can I get temp table meta data as I need to know column names and types. select * from tempdb.sys.syscolumns where tname like '#task' is not working, however #task table is there

[reimer_pods]

What type of temporary table is this, how is it created?
- CREATE GLOBAL TEMPORARY TABLE
- CREATE LOCAL TEMPORARY TABLE
- DECLARE LOCAL TEMPORARY TABLE
- SELECT ... INTO #task FROM ...
Which version of SQL Anywhere are you using?

[Former Member]

Table was created using create LOCAL

[Former Member]

For local temporary tables you may use "select * from sa_describe_query('select * from temp1')". For global temporary table you can pick up the schema from the catalog (e.g syscolumns view).

[VolkerBarth]

Are you using SQL Anywhere at all? AFAIK, the particular "tempdb" database is a particular ASE/MS SQL Server facility to store temporary tables.

SQL Anywhere (SA) has no explicit "tempdb" database, nor does it use the three-part-name schema (database.owner.table). So it seems the

select from tempdb.sys.syscolumns

completely ignores the "database" specifier and is really just a

select from sys.syscolumns

and simply returns alls rows for all permanent tables and for all global temporary tables.

So, if you're using SA, then "#task" will only be in the result set if it is a global temporary table.

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FWIW, SA's "temp" dbspace is something completely different...

[Former Member]

Creating global temp table works for me as I can get data from sys.syscolumns. Thanks a lot.