BUG: Sp_cursor: The Parameter 'Table' Is Invalid w/Long DB Names

• Microsoft SQL Server, version 6.5

SYMPTOMS

If a client application references a table using the database..tablename syntax and requests server side cursors, (not a Transact-SQL ANSI cursor) the following error will occur when performing an insert into the database..tablename, if the combination of database plus tablename is greater than 28 characters:

   Msg 16902, Level 16, State 1
   sp_cursor: The parameter 'table' is invalid

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do any one of the following:

• Limit the length of your database plus tablename to less than or equal to 28 characters.
• If your application only references one database, reference the table by the tablename, and do not use the database..tablename syntax.
• Have your application use ODBC cursors instead of server side cursors.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.