How to store a value in variable from SQLQuery using Scripts

Hi Experts,

I need to fetch the value from database table and store it in variable to do further process.

Using Scripts and SQL query option in SAP BODS.

Script used:

$L_Output = sql('Datastore_Name','select sno from xx_table where c_xx = \'21-JUN-16\'');

This results NULL as output. Can you please suggest.

Thanks,

Pradheep S