A cursor with the name '%.*ls' does not exist.

Error Message:
Msg 16916, Level 16, State 1, Line 4
A cursor with the name '%.*ls' does not exist.

Severity level:
16.

Description:
This error message appears when you try to use a non-existing cursor.

Consequences:
The T-SQL statement can be parsed, but causes the error at runtime.

Resolution:
Errors of the Severity Level 16 are generated by the user and are corrigible by the user. The statement cannot be executed this way. You can only refer to valid and existing cursors. You must either declare the cursor before you can use it.

Versions:
All versions of SQL Server.

Example(s):
USE Northwind
GO
/*DECLARE myCursor CURSOR READ_ONLY FOR
SELECT *
  FROM Northwind.dbo.Orders*/
OPEN myCursor
FETCH NEXT FROM myCursor
DEALLOCATE myCursor

Remarks:
In the above example we try to use the cursor myCursor. Because this cursor hasn't been declared yet the error is raised.