Peter E. Kierstead (2/20/2008)

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The previous poster is correct about using RAISERROR as opposed to PRINT to eliminate output queing, however, RAISERROR has a feature that my cause you problems if you are not aware of it. The output string uses a format similar to the C printf function in that it supports % format strings. If you don't escape your use of % signs the RAISERROR call will fail. You can do this by doubling up all % signs in your original string before outputing it.

The following will fail...

Declare @Msg VarChar(8000)

Set @Msg='''%'' is an invalid input.'

RaisError(@Msg,0,1) with nowait

Corrected version...

Declare @Msg VarChar(8000)

Set @Msg='''%'' is an invalid input.'

Set @Msg=Replace(@Msg,'%','%%')

RaisError(@Msg,0,1) with nowait

You could write an OUTPUT procedure to handle these details for you...