BUG: SELECT INTO Does Not Raise Error with No Column Name

• Microsoft SQL Server version 4.2 for OS/2
• Microsoft SQL Server, version 4.2

       NT: 489 (4.2)

SYMPTOMS

If a table is created using SELECT INTO, and no column name is given, sp_help <tablename> will return error 515:

   attempt to insert the value NULL into column <col_name>, table
   tempdb.dbo.#sphelptab_.....column does not allow nulls.

CAUSE

The SELECT INTO statement puts a NULL for the column name when aggregate function is used and no column name is given. A table should not have NULL column names.

For example:

     select count(*), title_id
     into t
     from titles

WORKAROUND

Make sure the columns names are supplied when using SELECT INTO.

For example:

     select count=count(*), title_id
     into t
     from titles

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server version 4.2 for OS/2 and Microsoft SQL Server version 4.2. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.