Unexpected query output behaviour

• Scott Thornton-407727

  SSCrazy

  Points: 2271

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  August 24, 2009 at 10:59 pm

  #137528

  Hi,

  I recently came cross some unexpected output in a query ( for me at least)

  The statement

  isnull(PAYMENT.sb_health_fund_code,isnull(replace(PAYMENT.SB_CHEQUE_DRAWER,',',' '), '')),

  was returning "DEPOSIT HU"

  as the health fund code was null, however the cheque drawer contained "DEPOSIT HUNTER MUTUAL LI K A BOLTON"

  It turns out that the health fund code field is a VARCHAR(10) field, and the output was only showing the first 10 characters.

  Is this normal behaviour in T-SQL? I cant recall seeing it before.

  Cheers,

• BrainDonor

  SSCoach

  Points: 19243

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  August 25, 2009 at 1:32 am

  #1044012

  It will truncate without any warnings. Have a look at 'varchar data type' in BOL, there's an example in there that demonstrates that.

  BrainDonor.

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