How does the VALIDATE TABLE SQL statement report an error?

[Breck_Carter]

Does it raise an exception?

( or can someone tell me how to force an error? )

For example, the dbvalid.exe utility appears to run VALIDATE TABLE statements, and is able to determine "No errors reported"... how?

[VolkerBarth]

You could try to validate a heavily modified database, leading to the notorious "false positives"...

[Breck_Carter]

Excellent suggestion! ...except it's not easy to do with a small demo database, apparently.

Does anyone know how to easily force a false positive on VALIDATE TABLE, or does it only work on the VALIDATE DATABASE thing?

[VolkerBarth · Accepted solution]

Dbvalid might use sa_validate(), as that does return its success as text (with v17 adding a "bValid" bit to allow for language-agnostic success evaluation.).

Cf. that FAQ.

[Breck_Carter · Accepted solution]

The code for sa_validate() reveals that yes indeed, VALIDATE TABLE reports problems via raised exceptions, and also shows how to use CREATE PROCEDURE ON EXCEPTION RESUME to capture all the exceptions in a loop... thank you!