One of the developer at my company thought that we can not use RAISEERROR function in new feature of SQL Server 2005 TRY…CATCH. When asked for explanation he suggested SQL SERVER – 2005 Explanation of TRY…CATCH and ERROR Handling article as excuse suggesting that I did not give example of RAISEERROR with TRY…CATCH. We all thought it was funny. Just to keep record straight, TRY…CATCH can sure use RAISEERROR function.

First read original article for additional information about how TRY…CATCH works with ERROR codes. SQL SERVER – 2005 Explanation of TRY…CATCH and ERROR Handling

Example 1 : Simple TRY…CATCH without RAISEERROR function
BEGIN TRY
DECLARE @MyInt INT;
-- Following statement will create Devide by Zero Error
SET @MyInt = 1/0;
END TRY
BEGIN CATCH
SELECT 'Divide by zero error encountered.' ErrorMessage
END CATCH;
GO

ResultSet:
ErrorMessage
———————————
Divide by zero error encountered.

Example 2 : Simple TRY…CATCH with RAISEERROR function
BEGIN TRY
DECLARE @MyInt INT;
-- Following statement will create Devide by Zero Error
SET @MyInt = 1/0;
END TRY
BEGIN CATCH
DECLARE @ErrorMessage NVARCHAR(4000);
SELECT @ErrorMessage = ERROR_MESSAGE();
RAISERROR (@ErrorMessage, 16, 1);
END CATCH;
GO

ResultSet:
Msg 50000, Level 16, State 1, Line 9
Divide by zero error encountered.