SQL - conditionally select a column if exists

Question

I need to select a column only if it exists in table, else it can be set to null.

Sample table below, lets say the marks col is not necessary be there, so need to be checked if it exists

Table1:

name marks
joe  10
john 11
mary 13

Query:

select
    name,
    marks if it exists else null as marks1 -- pseudo code
from 
    table1

What should go in line to select marks ?

Answer 1

SQL Doesn't permit that. Your result set has two options:

1. Static inclusion
2. All from table or subquery through column-expansion with * and tbl.*

Perhaps this will suit your needs, SELECT * FROM table1; You'll always get that column, if it exists.

Answer 2

try this

IF COL_LENGTH('your_table_name','column_name_you_want_to_select') IS NULL BEGIN 
 --This means columns does not exist or permission is denied
 END
 else 
 --Do whatever you want