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A user-defined function (UDF) is stored as a database object providing reusable code that can be used in Transact-SQL (T-SQL) statements such as SELECT, in applications calling the function, in the definition of another user-defined function, to parameterize a view or improve the functionality of an indexed view, to define a column in a table, to define a CHECK constraint for a column or to replace a stored procedure.

User-defined functions have been expanded in Microsoft SQL Server 2005 to include functions written in any .NET programming language. SQL Anywhere allows to define user-specific database functions. In an SQL statement, you can then use these user-defined database functions in the same way as any other predefined functions.

New UDFs are created within Create UDF Wizard. In order to run the wizard you should either

•	select the Object \| Create Database Object... main menu item;

•	select the UDF icon in the Create Database Object dialog

•	select the UDFs list or any object from that list in the explorer tree;

•	select the Create New UDF... item from the popup menu

•	open Database Editor, or (for Microsoft server 2005) Schema Editor and the UDFs tab there;

•	press the Insert key or select the Create New UDF item from the popup menu (alternatively, you may use the corresponding link of the Navigation Bar).

To create a new UDF with the same properties as one of the existing UDFs has:

•	select the Object \| Duplicate Database Object... main menu item;

•	follow the instructions of Duplicate Object Wizard.

UDFs can be edited within UDFEditor. In order to open the editor you should either

•	select the UDF for editing in the explorer tree (type the first letters of the UDF name for quick search);

•	select the Edit UDF item from the popup menu

•	open Schema Editor and the UDFs tab there;

•	select the UDF to edit;

•	press the Enter key or select the Edit UDF item from the popup menu (alternatively, you may use the corresponding link of the Navigation Bar).

You can change the name of the UDF using the Rename UDF dialog:

•	select the UDF to rename in the explorer tree;

•	select the Rename UDF item from the popup menu.

To execute the UDF:

•	select the UDF in the explorer tree (type the first letters of the UDF name for quick search);

•	select the Edit UDF... item from the popup menu;

•	execute the UDF using the Execute link of the Navigation Bar

•	open Schema Editor and the UDFs tab there;

•	select the UDF to execute;

•	press the Enter key or select the Edit UDF item from the popup menu, or use the corresponding link of the Navigation Bar;

•	execute the UDF using the Execute link of the Navigation bar.

To drop a UDF:

•	select the UDF to drop in the explorer tree;

•	select the Drop UDF item from the popup menu

•	open Schema Editor and the UDFs tab there;

•	select the UDF to drop;

•	press the Delete key or select the Drop UDF item from the popup menu (alternatively, you may use the corresponding link of the Navigation Bar)

and confirm dropping in the dialog window.