Here's the shorter and faster way to test for "bad" characters

DECLARE @BadCharList varchar(32), @StringToTest varchar(50)

SET @StringToTest = 'CHECK Constraint z'
SELECT PATINDEX('%[!@#$%^&*()]%',  @StringToTest)

-- or 

SET @BadCharList = '!@#$%^&*()'
SELECT PATINDEX('%[' + @BadCharList + ']%',  @StringToTest)

>The function would allow the code to be reused over several tables or even databases. It could be used in triggers.
>
<snip>>
>In a trigger or a CHECK Constraint there is still the issue of having to check each field for each special character. Can you think of a better, quicker way of doing this, or is this as good as another choice?