SQL Server Error Msg 114 – Browse mode is invalid for a statement that assigns values to a variable

In this blog post, let’s learn about the error message “114 – Browse mode is invalid for a statement that assigns values to a variable.” in Microsoft SQL Server, the reason why it appears and the solution to fix it.

SQL Server Error Message

114 – Browse mode is invalid for a statement that assigns values to a variable.

Reason for the Error

The SQL Server Error Msg 114 – Browse mode is invalid for a statement that assigns values to a variable, occurs when a SELECT statement is used to assign a value to a variable, and the query is executed in browse mode. Browse mode is a read-only mode that is used to fetch and display data, and it cannot be used to execute statements that modify data or assign values to variables.

Here’s an example that causes the error:

DECLARE @my_variable INT
SELECT @my_variable = id FROM my_table

In this example, a SELECT statement is used to assign the value of the “id” column in “my_table” to the “@my_variable” variable. However, if the query is executed in browse mode, it will result in the SQL Server error message 114.

Here are some possible reasons for this error:

1. Incorrect syntax: The SELECT statement may have incorrect syntax or be missing required elements, which causes it to be executed in browse mode.
2. Query options: The query may have been executed with options that force it into browse mode, such as using the “NOLOCK” hint or the “READUNCOMMITTED” isolation level.

Solution

To fix this error, you can try the following solutions:

Use the SET statement instead of the SELECT statement to assign a value to a variable.

DECLARE @my_variable INT
SET @my_variable = (SELECT id FROM my_table)

Verify that the query is not being executed in browse mode by checking any query options that may be forcing it into browse mode.

DECLARE @my_variable INT
SELECT @my_variable = id FROM my_table WITH (NOLOCK)

In this example, the query is being executed with the “NOLOCK” hint, which can force the query into browse mode. Removing the “NOLOCK” hint would allow the query to be executed without error.

Once you have identified and fixed the error, you can rerun the code or script, and the error message should no longer appear.