How do you compare the results of two stored procedures in SQL Server?

Comparing the results of two stored procedures in SQL Server can be done in various ways, depending on your specific requirements. Here are a few common approaches:

### Using Temporary Tables or Table Variables:

1. **Create Temporary Tables or Table Variables:**
Create temporary tables or table variables to store the results of each stored procedure.

```sql
DECLARE @Results1 TABLE (/* columns definition */);
DECLARE @Results2 TABLE (/* columns definition */);

INSERT INTO @Results1
EXEC YourStoredProcedure1;

INSERT INTO @Results2
EXEC YourStoredProcedure2;
```

2. **Compare Results:**
Once the results are stored, you can use standard SQL queries to compare the data.

```sql
SELECT * FROM @Results1
EXCEPT
SELECT * FROM @Results2;
```

This query will return rows that exist in the first result set but not in the second.

You can also use `INTERSECT` or other set operations based on your specific needs.

### Using Common Table Expressions (CTEs):

1. **Create CTEs:**
Use Common Table Expressions (CTEs) to define the result sets of the stored procedures.

```sql
WITH Results1 AS (
EXEC YourStoredProcedure1
),
Results2 AS (
EXEC YourStoredProcedure2
)
```

2. **Compare Results:**
Compare the CTEs using standard SQL set operations.

```sql
SELECT * FROM Results1
EXCEPT
SELECT * FROM Results2;
```

### Using OPENQUERY:

If your stored procedures return result sets, you can use the `OPENQUERY` function to execute them in the context of a `SELECT` statement.

```sql
SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY([YourLinkedServer], 'EXEC YourDatabase.YourSchema.YourStoredProcedure1');
EXCEPT
SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY([YourLinkedServer], 'EXEC YourDatabase.YourSchema.YourStoredProcedure2');
```

Replace `[YourLinkedServer]` with the name of your linked server.

### Using a JOIN:

If the stored procedures return a key or some identifier, you can use a `JOIN` to compare the results.

```sql
SELECT *
FROM (EXEC YourStoredProcedure1) AS SP1
FULL OUTER JOIN (EXEC YourStoredProcedure2) AS SP2 ON SP1.ID = SP2.ID
WHERE SP1.ID IS NULL OR SP2.ID IS NULL;
```

Replace `ID` with the actual key or identifier.

Choose the approach that best fits your specific scenario and the structure of your stored procedures' result sets. Keep in mind that the methods mentioned here may have performance implications depending on the size of your data.