FIX: You receive an "Invalid character value" error message when you use the bcp utility to import dates (883503)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8

SYMPTOMS

When you try to import dates by using the bcp utility, you may receive the following error message:
[Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver]Invalid character value for cast specification
This behavior occurs with dates that are formatted to contain a dash (-) character and that have two digits in the month or in the day, but not in both. For example, dates such as 12-1-2004 and 1-12-2004 cause the error. However, a date such as 12-12-2004 does not cause the error.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Service packs that will include this fix

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Prerequisites

Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.8.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 

   Date         Time   Version           Size     File name     
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2000.85.1050.0    73,728   Dbnetlib.dll     
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2000.85.1050.0    28,672   Dbnmpntw.dll     
   09-Aug-2004  11:21  2.80.1050.0       315,392  Msadce.dll       
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2.80.1050.0       135,168  Msadco.dll       
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2.80.1050.0       49,152   Msadcs.dll       
   09-Aug-2004  11:21  2.80.1050.0       147,456  Msadds.dll       
   09-Aug-2004  11:21  2.80.1050.0       507,904  Msado15.dll      
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2.80.1050.0       163,840  Msadomd.dll      
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2.80.1050.0       184,320  Msadox.dll       
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2.80.1050.0       53,248   Msadrh15.dll     
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2.80.1050.0       225,280  Msdaora.dll      
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2.80.1050.0       192,512  Msdaprst.dll     
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2.80.1050.0       147,456  Msdart.dll       
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2.575.1050.0      139,264  Msorcl32.dll     
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  3.525.1050.0      221,184  Odbc32.dll       
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2000.85.1050.0    24,576   Odbcbcp.dll      
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2.80.1050.0       442,368  Oledb32.dll      
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2000.85.1050.0    503,808  Sqloledb.dll     
   09-Aug-2004  11:22  2000.85.1050.0    401,408  Sqlsrv32.dll     
   09-Aug-2004  09:56  2000.85.1050.0    208,896  Sqlxmlx.dll

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to reproduce the problem

  1. In Notepad, or a text editor of your choice, paste the following code:
    1-12-2004
12-1-2004
  2. Save the text file as Datadate.txt.
  3. Start Microsoft SQL Query Analyzer.
  4. Run the following code in SQL Query Analyzer:
    create database abc
go
use abc
go
create table mydate (c1 datetime not null)
go
  5. At the command prompt, type bcp abc..mydate in "FilePath\Datadate.txt" -c -T, and then press ENTER. You receive the error message that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.

    Note FilePath is a placeholder for the path of the Datadate.txt file on your computer.

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

839801 FIX: Hotfixes are available for MDAC 2.8

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

For more information about the bcp utility, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/coprompt/cp_bcp_61et.asp

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:4/7/2006
Keywords:kbQFE KBHotfixServer kbImport kbDatabase kbfix KB883503 kbAudDeveloper
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