PRB: BCP Out Does Not Allow Columns to Be Skipped (96812)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft SQL Server 4.2x
This article was previously published under Q96812 SYMPTOMS
A column will be copied "out" of SQL Server when using the Bulk
Copy Program (BCP) even if the format (.FMT) file has specified a
length of zero for that particular column.
Also, BCP will not truncate a column when copying the data out of
SQL Server, even if the length specified in the .FMT file is a
lesser value than the true length of the column.
CAUSE
The behavior of the BCP utility version 4.2 has changed from
version 1.1x in that it will not allow columns to be eliminated or
truncated by giving a length less than that of the column when bulk
copying the data out of SQL Server.
WORKAROUND
If it is necessary to bulk copy data out of SQL Server, and a
column needs to be removed or truncated, you will need to make use
of an intermediate table. By using the SELECT INTO clause in SQL
Server, columns can be modified or dropped and then BCP can be used
to unload the data.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 3/19/1999 |
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| Keywords: | KB96812 |
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