PRB: Column SS_DATA_TYPE From sp_columns is The Same As syscolumns.type And Not syscolumns.xtype (268243)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft SQL Server 7.0

This article was previously published under Q268243

SYMPTOMS

There is a discrepancy between the values shown by the column ss_data_type in the sp_columns stored procedure and the value shown by the xtype column in the syscolumns system table. The column ss_data_type is actually the same as the type column in the syscolumns table.

WORKAROUND

Use syscolumns.type, which is the same as the sp_columns.ss_data_type, instead of syscolumns.xtype.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft does not recommend that you query the system tables directly. However, you can use INFORMATION_SCHEMA views instead.

REFERENCES

For more information, see the "Information Schema Views (T-SQL)" topic in Microsoft SQL Server Books Online.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/27/2000
Keywords:kbprb KB268243