SQL Server - Create temp table if doesn't exist - sql-server

Question

In my SQL Server 2012 environment, I've created a series of stored procedures that pass pre-existing temporary tables among themselves (I have tried different architectures here, but wasn't able to bypass this due to the nature of the requirements / procedures).
What I'm trying to do is to, within a stored procedure check if a temporary table has already been created and, if not, to create it.
My current SQL looks as follows:
IF OBJECT_ID('tempdb..#MyTable') IS NULL
CREATE TABLE #MyTable
(
Col1 INT,
Col2 VARCHAR(10)
...
);
But when I try and run it when the table already exists, I get the error message
There is already an object named '#MyTable' in the database
So it seems it doesn't simply ignore those lines within the If statement.
Is there a way to accomplish this - create a temp table if it doesn't already exist, otherwise, use the one already in memory?
Thanks!
UPDATE:
For whatever reason, following #RaduGheorghiu's suggestion from the comments, I found out that the system creates a temporary table with a name along the lines of dbo.#MyTable________________________________________________0000000001B1
Is that why I can't find it? Is there any way to change that? This is new to me....

Answer 1

Following the link here, http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/mladenp/archive/2008/08/21/SQL-Server-2005-temporary-tables-bug-feature-or-expected-behavior.aspx
It seems as though you need to use the GO statement.

Answer 2

You meant to use IS NOT NULL i think... this is commonly used to clear temp tables so you don't get the error you mentioned in your OP.
IF OBJECT_ID('tempdb..#MyTable') IS NOT NULL DROP TABLE #MyTable
CREATE TABLE #MyTable
(
Col1 INT,
Col2 VARCHAR(10)
);
The big difference is the DROP TABLE statement after you do your logical check. Also, creating your table without filling data doesn't make it NULL
DROP TABLE #MyTable
CREATE TABLE #MyTable
(
Col1 INT,
Col2 VARCHAR(10)
);
IF OBJECT_ID('tempdb..#MyTable') IS NOT NULL
SELECT 1

Answer 3

Try wrapping your actions in a begin...end block:
if object_id('tempdb..#MyTable') is null
begin
create table #MyTable (
Col1 int
, Col2 varchar(10)
);
end

Answer 4

This seems odd, but it works when I try it
IF(OBJECT_ID('tempdb..#Test') IS NULL) --check if it exists
BEGIN
IF(1 = 0)--this will never actually run, but it tricks the parser into allowing the CREATE to run
DROP TABLE #Test;
PRINT 'Create table';
CREATE TABLE #Test
(
ID INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY
);
END
IF(NOT EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM #Test))
INSERT INTO #Test(ID)
VALUES(1);
SELECT *
FROM #Test;
--Try dropping the table and test again
--DROP TABLE #Test;