FIX: Datalength Function Returns 0 for NULL Text Columns

ID: Q165599

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5

BUG #: 16397 (WINDOWS: 6.5)

SYMPTOMS

Select datalength(textcol) from t1 returns 0 if the parameter is a text column that contains NULL.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, convert the NULL text column to varchar, and use the result as the parameter for the datalength function, as shown in the following example:


   select datalength(convert(varchar(255),textcol)) from t1

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5. This problem has been corrected in U.S. Service Pack 3 for Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5. For more information, contact your primary support provider.

Keywords : SSrvGen SSrvTran_SQL
Version : 6.5
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug