FIX: You receive a "Failed to open a table" error message when you try to open a trace table by using SQL Profiler after you upgrade to SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4 (900629)

CAUSE

This problem occurs because SQL Profiler cannot read the trace table. For example, this problem occurs if the table schema is not correct.

In SQL Server 2000 SP4, a code change was made to sort the table contents according to the RowNumber column. The RowNumber column is automatically created when you create a trace table by using SQL Profiler.

However, the RowNumber column is not created in the trace table if the following conditions are true, in the order in which they are presented:

You create a trace file by using SQL Profiler.
You import the contents of the trace file to a table by using the fn_trace_gettable function

Therefore, when you try to open this trace table by using SQL Profiler, you receive the error message that is mentioned in the "Symptoms" section.

RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next SQL Server 2000 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, 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.

Prerequisites

You must have SQL Server 2000 SP4 installed to apply this hotfix.

For more information about how to obtain SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

290211 How to obtain the latest SQL Server 2000 Service Pack

Restart information

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix. However, SQL Server 2000 is automatically restarted when you apply this hotfix.

Registry information

You do not have to change the registry after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix file information

This hotfix contains only those files that are required to correct the issues that this article describes. This hotfix may not contain of all the files that you must have to fully update a product to the latest build.

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.

SQL Server 2000 32-bit versions

   Date         Time   Version         Size       File name
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   06-Jun-2005  22:46  8.11.50523.0      239,104  Mssdi98.dll      
   12-Jul-2005  17:23  2000.80.2148.0    430,080  Pfclnt80.dll     
   08-Jul-2005  01:50  2000.80.2148.0    323,584  Sqlagent.exe     
   08-Jul-2005  02:51  2000.80.2148.0    118,784  Sqldiag.exe      
   08-Jul-2005  02:09  2000.80.2148.0    102,400  Sqlfth75.dll     
   08-Jul-2005  16:07  2000.80.2148.0  9,154,560  Sqlservr.exe

SQL Server 2000 64-bit version

   Date         Time   Version         Size        File name     Platform
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   06-Jun-2005  22:46  8.11.50523.0       758,784  Mssdi98.dll   IA-64
   08-Jul-2005  16:22  2000.80.2148.0   1,187,840  Pfclnt80.dll  IA-64
   08-Jul-2005  17:10  2000.80.2148.0   1,061,376  Sqlagent.exe  IA-64
   08-Jul-2005  16:33  2000.80.2148.0     334,336  Sqldiag.exe   IA-64
   08-Jul-2005  16:24  2000.80.2148.0     246,784  Sqlfth75.dll  IA-64
   08-Jul-2005  22:14  2000.80.2148.0  24,935,424  Sqlservr.exe  IA-64

Note Because of file dependencies, the most recent hotfix or feature that contains these files may also contain additional files.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:

Method 1: Create the RowNumber column

If the trace table does not contain a RowNumber column, you can add a column that is named RowNumber to the trace table. Or you can re-create the trace table. When you do this, make sure that a RowNumber column exists in the newly created table. For example, if your trace file is named C:\Trc1.trc, use one of the following Transact-SQL statements:

SELECT *, Null as RowNumber INTO temp_trc FROM ::fn_trace_gettable('c:\trc1.trc', default)

SELECT IDENTITY(int, 1, 1) AS RowNumber, * INTO temp_trc FROM ::fn_trace_gettable('c:\trc1.trc', default)

Method 2: Use a version of SQL Profiler that is not updated to SQL Server 2000 SP4

The code change that causes this problem to occur is implemented in SQL Server 2000 SP4. Therefore, you can open the trace table by using SQL Profiler from a SQL Server 2000 installation that does not have SQL Server 2000 SP4 installed.