Microsoft KB Archive/71054

PRB: Syntax Error Inserting DATETIME Data ID Number: Q71054

1.10 1.11 OS/2 docerr

Summary:

SYMPTOMS When entering data that appears to be acceptable datetime format, you may receive the error “Syntax error converting DATETIME from character string.”

CAUSE On page 193 of the “Microsoft SQL Server Learning TRANSACT-SQL” manual and page 81 of the “Microsoft SQL Server Language Reference,” (both from SQL Server versions 1.1x), the following is shown as one of the acceptable formats for entering datetime data:

[15] Apr[il][,] [19]87 This incorrectly implies that entering “Apr 87” is an acceptable format, and that the day of the month should default to the first. However, it is not acceptable, and will generate a syntax error.

RESOLUTION This is an error in the documentation. The correct syntax for entering a datetime value in this format should be:

[15] Apr[il][,] 1987 Please note that the full four digits of the year must be present.

This problem has been corrected in the SQL Server version 4.2 documentation.

Additional reference words: 1.10 1.11 datetime docerr