SQL Server 2008 Calculation Variables 19 January 2011 brianbruff SqlServer 2008 has a short hand/compact way of assigning calculation variables. e.g Sql2005 DECLARE @val INT set @val = 1; set @val = @val + 1; Sql2008 DECLARE @val INT set @val = 1; set @val += 1; Same applies to other operators, *=, –=, /=