>>>SQL Server is all about set-based operations. If you can perform your process with set-based, it will be better than using cursors.
>>>If there is absolutely no set-based alternative, then I suggest to read Brad Schulz series about cursors
>>>
>>>The Truth about Cursors - Part 1
>>>
>>>and other parts.
>>
>>I'm not sure what you mean by set based operations
>>
>>Thanks
>
>If in your previous post you were talking about temporary storage of the query result (this is what VFP cursors are), then in SQL Server you can use
>1. CTE (common table expression) or derived table - the result of CTE must be used in a next statement (e.g. it can hold data only 'once')
>2. Temp table (table that starts with # sign and stored in TempDB)
>3. Table variable (can be used if you're not producing a large set).

How long does a temporary table (option 2) persist ?

Thanks