How to encrypt all existing stored procedures of a database

Question

Is there any possibility to encrypt all existing stored procedures of a SQL Server 2008 database AFTER they have been created via an SQLCMD script?

The reason I want to

Answer 1

I would recommend creating the sproc in a multi-line string variable and then inserting or altering it using sp_executesql. The only annoying downside to this approach is doubling of single quotes for strings.

DECLARE @action varchar(max);
SET @action = 'CREATE'; /* or "ALTER" */

DECLARE @withEncryption varchar(max);
SET @withEncryption = ''; /* or "WITH ENCRYPTION" */

DECLARE @sql varchar(max);
SET @sql = @action + ' PROCEDURE dbo.Something'
    (
        ....
    ) ' + @withEncryption +
    ' AS
    BEGIN
        DECLARE @bob varchar(10);
        SET @bob = ''Bob'';
        ....
    END;
    ';

EXEC sp_executesql @statement = @sql;

[Note the whitespace around the variables.]

All of my scripts use this method, which works well once you get used to the quote doubling thing.

I also use a batch file to call the script, and SQLCMD-mode command line variables to select various behaviours, which makes it repeatable and easy to test.