Check if View exists before querying it - sql

Question

I want to check if a specific View exists before querying it. I use dynamic SQL to create the query:
DECLARE #sqlCommand varchar(1000)
DECLARE #viewName varchar(1000)
DECLARE #otherDB varchar(1000)
SET #sqlCommand = 'IF EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM ' + #otherDB + '.sys.views WHERE name=''' + #viewName + ''')
BEGIN
SELECT * FROM ' + #viewName + '
END'
EXEC (#sqlCommand)
So everything works fine as long as #viewName actually exists. However, if #viewName is a View that does not exist in sys.views, I get an error from the compiler:
The OLE DB provider "SQLNCLI11" for linked server "server" does not contain the table #viewName. The table either does not exist or the current user does not have permiossions on that table.
I would have thought that since an IF statement is used, it would just skip the querying of the View. However, seems like the View has to exist otherwise I get the above error.
I've tried alternate solutions, such as using strings for the View names, but no luck. I've also tried the solution in: How to check the existence of a view, but at some point I have to reference the View name in my query, and it would complain
Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Check for the existence of the view outside the dynamic SQL. You are trying to prevent the compile-time error of the view not existing in the select. There is no issue with the if:
IF EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM sys.views WHERE name = #viewName)
BEGIN
SET #sqlCommand = 'SELECT * FROM ' + #viewName
EXEC(#sqlCommand)
END;
Although it doesn't make a difference in this case, if you are using dynamic SQL, learn about sp_executesql -- it is more powerful than exec() because you can pass variables in and out.
EDIT:
In that case, you essentially have to do dynamic SQL inside dynamic SQL. The following is not tested, so there could be a syntax error:
DECLARE #viewName varchar(1000);
DECLARE #otherDB varchar(1000);
declare #sql nvarchar(max) = '
IF EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM #otherDB.sys.views WHERE name = ''#viewName'')
BEGIN
DECLARE #sqlCommand nvarchar(max);
SET #sqlCommand = ''SELECT * FROM #viewName'';
EXEC(#sqlCommand);
END;';
SET #sql = replace(replace(#ql, '#otherDB', #otherDB), '#viewName', #viewName);
EXEC(#sql);

Answer 2

What version of SQL Server are you using? I only have SQL Server 2014 available to test with, but the T-SQL below works for both missing and not missing views. I wonder whether the fact that you are checking for existence of the view in otherdb.sys.views but are not qualifying otherdb when selecting from the view is to blame?
declare #viewName varchar(50) = 'MissingView';
declare #sqlCommand nvarchar(1000);
declare #otherdb varchar(20) = 'MyTestDatabase';
set #sqlCommand = N'if exists
(
select 1
from ' + #otherdb + '.sys.views as v
where v.name = ''' + #viewName + '''
)
begin
select * from ' + #otherdb + '.dbo.' + #viewName + ';
end
else
begin
select ''Nah mate - missing view'';
end';
print #sqlCommand;
execute sp_executesql #sqlCommand;

Answer 3

You can use the Else condition when not exists to set error message
DECLARE #sqlCommand varchar(1000)
DECLARE #viewName varchar(1000)
SET #viewName = 'vwName'
SET #sqlCommand = 'IF EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM sys.views WHERE name=''' + #viewName + ''')
BEGIN
SELECT * FROM ' + #viewName + '
END
ELSE
BEGIN
SELECT ''View not exists''
END
'
EXEC (#sqlCommand)

Answer 4

Beware if your view is in a different schema, because then you need to also check the SCHEMAS table:
SELECT 1 FROM SYS.VIEWS
INNER JOIN SYS.SCHEMAS ON SYS.SCHEMAS.schema_id = SYS.VIEWS.schema_id
WHERE SYS.VIEWS.TYPE='V'
AND SYS.SCHEMAS.NAME=#Your_Schema_Name
AND SYS.VIEWS.NAME=#Your_View_Name