FIX: Error Message 7355 "..Inconsistent metadata for a column" Occurs When You Use a Linked Server (306401)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (all editions)

This article was previously published under Q306401

BUG #: 355111 (SHILOH_BUGS)

SYMPTOMS

An OLEDB Provider that supports index access path data retrieval may encounter the following 7355 error message when the index names are similar:

Server: Msg 7355, Level 16, State 1, Line 4
OLE DB provider 'MYPROVIDER' supplied inconsistent metadata for a column. The name was changed at execution time.

CAUSE

SQL Server does not properly account for the string lengths during an index name comparison.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2000. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

290211 INF: How to Obtain the Latest SQL Server 2000 Service Pack

Hotfix

NOTE: The following hotfix was created prior to Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 2.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

   File name      Platform
   -----------------------
   S800436i.exe   Intel

NOTE: Due to file dependencies, the most recent hotfix or feature that contains the above files may also contain additional files.

WORKAROUND

To work around the problem either:

Make sure that all the index names are unique.

-or-
Make sure that all the index names are reported to SQL Server in sorted order.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server 2000. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 2.

MORE INFORMATION

Here is an example of the failure condition:

INDEX 1:  FIELDABC   NAME LENGTH: 8
INDEX 2:  FIELDA     NAME LENGTH: 6

When SQL Server searches for INDEX='FIELDA', SQL Server uses a string length of six (6) characters. The first six (6) characters of INDEX=FIELDABC matches so SQL Server selects incorrect index properties.

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	10/9/2003
Keywords:	kbbug kbfix kbSQLServ2000preSP2Fix KB306401