How can I display something during the execution of a SQL script on SQLServer?

Question

For example. I have a database upgrade script for adding a column to a database table. It looks a little like this:

IF NOT Exists(SELECT * FROM SysColumns sc         


        

Answer 1

Use PRINT - it works from most SQL client applications. SELECT also works e.g

PRINT 'column already exists or something'

or

SELECT 'column already exists or something'

Answer 2

RAISERROR seems appropriate here. See here.

Answer 3

you can use PRINT statement in SQL

Answer 4

RAISERROR ('column already exists',0,1)  with nowait

or

print 'column already exists'