Microsoft KB Archive/883503

= FIX: You receive an &quot;Invalid character value&quot; error message when you use the bcp utility to import dates =

Article ID: 883503

Article Last Modified on 11/15/2007

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8

-





SYMPTOMS
When you try to import dates by using the bcp utility, you may receive the following error message:

[Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver]Invalid character value for cast specification

This behavior occurs with dates that are formatted to contain a dash (-) character and that have two digits in the month or in the day, but not in both. For example, dates such as 12-1-2004 and 1-12-2004 cause the error. However, a date such as 12-12-2004 does not cause the error.



RESOLUTION
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that this article describes. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

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

Service packs that will include this fix
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Prerequisites
Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.8.

Restart requirement
You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
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 tool in Control Panel.  Date        Time   Version           Size     File name 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2000.85.1050.0    73,728   Dbnetlib.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2000.85.1050.0    28,672   Dbnmpntw.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:21  2.80.1050.0       315,392  Msadce.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2.80.1050.0       135,168  Msadco.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2.80.1050.0       49,152   Msadcs.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:21  2.80.1050.0       147,456  Msadds.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:21  2.80.1050.0       507,904  Msado15.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2.80.1050.0       163,840  Msadomd.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2.80.1050.0       184,320  Msadox.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2.80.1050.0       53,248   Msadrh15.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2.80.1050.0       225,280  Msdaora.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2.80.1050.0       192,512  Msdaprst.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2.80.1050.0       147,456  Msdart.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2.575.1050.0      139,264  Msorcl32.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  3.525.1050.0      221,184  Odbc32.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2000.85.1050.0    24,576   Odbcbcp.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2.80.1050.0       442,368  Oledb32.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2000.85.1050.0    503,808  Sqloledb.dll 09-Aug-2004 11:22  2000.85.1050.0    401,408  Sqlsrv32.dll 09-Aug-2004 09:56  2000.85.1050.0    208,896  Sqlxmlx.dll



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



Steps to reproduce the problem
  In Notepad, or a text editor of your choice, paste the following code: 1-12-2004 12-1-2004  Save the text file as Datadate.txt. Start Microsoft SQL Query Analyzer.  Run the following code in SQL Query Analyzer: create database abc go use abc go create table mydate (c1 datetime not null) go  At the command prompt, type bcp abc..mydate in &quot; \Datadate.txt&quot; -c -T, and then press ENTER. You receive the error message that is mentioned in the &quot;Symptoms&quot; section.

Note  is a placeholder for the path of the Datadate.txt file on your computer.</li></ol>

<div class="references_section">