How to check query syntax programmatically

A nice feature in MS SQL Server Management studio or the old good query analyzer is the ability to check query syntax before executing it by pressing (Parse) or (Ctrl+F5).

You also can provide this functionality in your application in case your application creates queries on the fly or has a query designer.

This can be done using the PARSEONLY option. Queries that run while PARSEONLY option is ON are parsed but not executed, For example:

SET PARSEONLY ON
Go
Select * from dbo.Books
Go
SET PARSEONLY OFF

The above Select will not be executed, it will only be parsed, the result will be:

Command(s) completed successfully.

Without returning any data.

It's simple, open the database connection, execute "SET PARSEONLY ON", then execute your query, then "SET PARSEONLY OFF"