BUG: Convert Defaults to 30 When No Length Is Given (80640)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft SQL Server 4.2x
This article was previously published under Q80640 SYMPTOMS
A statement of the form,
select convert(varchar, <column>) from <table>,
where <column> is a char, varchar, or text column in <table>, returns the
first 30 characters of <column>. The documentation for the CONVERT function
in the Microsoft SQL Server Transact-SQL Reference states:
"If no length is specified when converting to varchar or varbinary
datatypes, the data adapts to any size necessary."
That is, if <column> is of type char(100), the above text implies
that the above SELECT statement must return all the characters in
<column>.
CAUSE
The value of 30 is incorrectly hard coded as the default when no length is
specified as the default.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server version 4.2.
| Modification Type: | Minor | Last Reviewed: | 2/14/2005 |
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| Keywords: | kbBug kbprogramming KB80640 |
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