BUG: Nested STUFF() Functions Return NULL

ID: Q100600

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SQL Server version 4.2x


BUG# NT:  319 (4.2)

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to change several characters in a character string using nested calls to the STUFF() Transact-SQL function, NULL is returned instead of the expected character string.

CAUSE

The result of nested STUFF() functions is NULL.

WORKAROUND

A local variable can be used to eliminate the need for nesting calls to STUFF(). For example, to change the slash marks in a date to hyphens, the following Transact-SQL statements could be used:


   declare @tempvar char(8)
   select @var = stuff( "01/01/93",6,1,"-" )
   select @var = stuff( @var, 3,1,"-" )
   select @var

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server SQL Server version 4.2.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbprg SSrvTran_SQL kbbug4.20 SSrvServer SSrvWinNT
Version : winnt:4.2x
Platform : winnt
Issue type :