How to Efficiently Print VARCHAR(MAX) Values in SQL Server?

SQL Server: Handling Long VARCHAR(MAX) Output

This article addresses the challenge of printing VARCHAR(MAX) values in SQL Server, which are often truncated due to the PRINT statement's 8000-character limitation. We'll explore efficient methods to overcome this restriction.

Scenario: You're retrieving a large VARCHAR(MAX) value (e.g., a long script) and need to display it completely using PRINT. Simple PRINT statements are insufficient.

Method 1: Leveraging NTEXT (Less Recommended)

While older solutions suggest using the NTEXT data type, this approach is generally discouraged due to NTEXT being deprecated. Although it can handle text exceeding 8000 characters, it's less efficient and not recommended for new code. The example below illustrates the concept (though its use is advised against):

DECLARE @info NVARCHAR(MAX);
-- Set @info to a large NVARCHAR(MAX) value

PRINT CAST(@info AS NTEXT);

Method 2: Iterative Substring Printing (Recommended)

A more robust and modern solution involves iteratively printing 8000-character chunks of the VARCHAR(MAX) value using a WHILE loop. This dynamically adapts to the string's length.

DECLARE @info VARCHAR(MAX);
-- Set @info to a large VARCHAR(MAX) value

DECLARE @start INT = 1;
DECLARE @end INT = 8000;

WHILE @start <= LEN(@info)
BEGIN
    PRINT SUBSTRING(@info, @start, @end);
    SET @start = @start + 8000;
    SET @end = @end + 8000;
END;

This iterative approach provides a more reliable and efficient way to handle and display large VARCHAR(MAX) values in SQL Server, avoiding the limitations and deprecation issues associated with older methods. It's the preferred solution for modern SQL Server development.

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