Background

I was trying to place constraints around executing a SQL Statement.

Tried using “set parseonly on“.

 

Code

Outline

1. Reset environment
   • set parseonly off
2. Conditional
   • If 1=0
     • set parseonly on
3. Reset environment
   • set parseonly off

SQL

set parseonly off
go

print 'Step 1 - Pre - Set ParseOnly On'
go

if ( 1=0)
begin

    print char(9) + 'Pre - Set parseonly on ....'

    set parseonly on

    print char(9) + 'Post - Set Parseonly on set to on'

end
go


print 'Step 2 - Post - Set ParseOnly On'
go

set parseonly off
go

print 'Step 3 - Post - Set ParseOnly Off'
go

Output

Image

Text

Step 1 - Pre - Set ParseOnly On
Step 3 - Post - Set ParseOnly Off

Source Code Control

GitLab

1. SQL Server – Transact SQL – Set Statement
   Link

Summary

There is nothing conditional about “set parseonly“.

When “set parseonly on” is encountered, SQL parsing continues.

But, none of the successive SQL Statements are executed thereafter.

That is “ParseOnly” is really what it says.

Parse successive statements, but do not execute them.

“Set parseonly off” will re-enable execution.

 

References

1. Microsoft
   • Learn / SQL / SQL Server
     • SET PARSEONLY (Transact-SQL)
       Link