Microsoft KB Archive/918276

= FIX: You notice additional random trailing character in values when you retrieve the values from a fixed-size character column or a fixed-size binary column of a table in SQL Server 2005 =

Article ID: 918276

Article Last Modified on 11/20/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard X64 Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise X64 Edition
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition for Itanium-based Systems
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
 * Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1

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Bug #: 733 (SQL Hotfix)

Bug #: 50000201 (SQL Hotfix)



Notice
Microsoft distributes Microsoft SQL Server 2005 fixes as one downloadable file. Because the fixes are cumulative, each new release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2005 fix release.



This article describes the following about this hotfix release:
 * The issues that are fixed by this hotfix package
 * The prerequisites for installing the hotfix package
 * Information about whether you must restart the computer after you install the hotfix package
 * Information about whether the hotfix package is replaced by any other hotfix package
 * Information about whether you must make any registry changes
 * The files that are contained in the hotfix package



SYMPTOMS
In SQL Server 2005, when you retrieve values from a fixed-size character column or a fixed-size binary column of a table, you notice additional random trailing characters in the values.

This problem occurs when all the following conditions are true:
 * The table is populated with the values in the connection context that has the ANSI_PADDING setting set to OFF.
 * The values with which the table is populated are returned by an ISNULL function from a SELECT statement. The SELECT statement has the following characteristics:
 * The SELECT statement has an INTO clause that creates the table. Additionally, the table is created in a connection context that has the ANSI_PADDING setting set to OFF.
 * The SELECT statement has an OUTER JOIN of  and   on their fixed-size binary columns or fixed-size character columns.
 * The fixed-size binary column or fixed-size character column values of either  or   that contain one or more NULL values are passed to the first parameter of the ISNULL function.
 * The table column that is passed to the first parameter of the ISNULL function is nonnullalble.
 * The second parameter of the ISNULL function is a constant value. The constant value has the smaller length than the fixed-size character column length or the fixed-size binary column length of the table in which you experience this problem.

Note  and   are used in this section to differentiate from the table in which you experience the problem.



RESOLUTION
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites

 * The original release version of SQL Server 2005-based hotfix requires the original release version of SQL Server 2005.
 * The SQL Server 2005 SP1-based hotfix requires SQL Server 2005 SP1.

For more information about how to obtain SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

913089 How to obtain the latest service pack for SQL Server 2005

Restart information
You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Registry information
You do not have to change the registry.

Hotfix file information
This hotfix contains only those files that are required to correct the issues that this article lists. This hotfix may not contain of all the files that you must have to fully update a product to the latest build.

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

The original release version of SQL Server 2005-based hotfix
SQL Server 2005 32-bit version

SQL Server 2005 x64-based version

SQL Server 2005 Itanium architecture version

SQL Server 2005 SP1-based hotfix
SQL Server 2005 32-bit version

SQL Server 2005 x64-based version

SQL Server 2005 Itanium architecture version



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the naming schema for Microsoft SQL Server updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

822499 New naming schema for Microsoft SQL Server software update packages

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbfix kbqfe kbpubtypekc kbexpertiseadvanced kbhotfixserver KB918276

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