“Invalid column name” error when calling insert after table created

Question

I\'m developing SQL script, using SSMS, which makes some changes in database:

USE MyDatabase;

BEGIN TRANSACTION;

-- some statements

PRINT(N\'#1\');

IF (E         


        

Answer 1

SQL Server tries to compile the whole batch. If the table already exists then it will compile according to the pre-existing definition. The statement referencing the new columns doesn't compile and so the batch never executes.

You need to group the statements using the new definition into a new batch. If you are running this in SSMS just insert a GO

USE MyDatabase;

BEGIN TRANSACTION;

-- some statements

PRINT(N'#1');

IF (EXISTS (SELECT * FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = N'dbo' AND TABLE_NAME = N'Table1' AND COLUMN_NAME = 'Table2_Id'))
BEGIN
    ALTER TABLE [dbo].[Table1] DROP CONSTRAINT [FK_Table1_Table2_Table2_Id];
    ALTER TABLE [dbo].[Table1] DROP COLUMN [Table2_Id];
    DROP TABLE [dbo].[Table2];

    PRINT(N'Table2 was dropped.');
END

GO

PRINT(N'#2');

IF (NOT EXISTS (SELECT * FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = N'dbo' AND TABLE_NAME = N'Table2'))
BEGIN
    CREATE TABLE [dbo].[Table2]
    (
        [Id] INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY IDENTITY,
        [Number] INT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
        [Name] NVARCHAR(200) NOT NULL,
        [RowVersion] TIMESTAMP NOT NULL
    );
PRINT(N'Table2 was re-created.');
    INSERT INTO [dbo].[Table2]([Number], [Name]) VALUES(-1, N'Default value');
PRINT(N'Default value was inserted in Table2.');
END

COMMIT

Otherwise you could run the offending line in a child batch

    EXEC(N'INSERT INTO [dbo].[Table2]([Number], [Name]) VALUES(-1, N''Default value'');')