BUG: Skipped Cols in Format File Can Cause Unhandled AV in BCP

• Microsoft SQL Server, version 6.0

SYMPTOMS

Using BCP to copy data out from Microsoft SQL Server can result in a unhandled exception for BCP.

CAUSE

The unhandled exception can occur when lines that specify columns that you want to skip when using BCP to extract the data out is not present in the format file. This only happens when using BCP to copy data out; the same format file can be used successfully to copy data in to SQL Server.

WORKAROUND

Use the method discussed in the "Administrator's Companion" manual in the section on BCP called 'Using a Format File to Selectively Copy Data' to skip a table column by specifying 0 prefix length, 0 length, and no terminator. Another workaround would be to create a view with the necessary columns, then BCP the data out from the view.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SQL Server version 6.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.