DOCUMENT:Q177722 08-DEC-1997 [vbwin] TITLE :PRB: SQL Server Stores One-Character String with Empty String PRODUCT :Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows PROD/VER:WINDOWS:5.0 OPER/SYS:WINDOWS KEYWORDS:vb5all ====================================================================== --------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, version 5.0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== In Visual Basic 5.0 using ODBC Direct, when a record is added/edited with a one-character string to a Text field of a SQL Server table, the one- character string is replaced with an empty string. RESOLUTION ========== Instead of using AddNew or Edit method, use the SQL statement INSERT INTO or UPDATE directly. STATUS ====== Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available. MORE INFORMATION ================ Besides steps to reproduce the behavior, the following sample code provides a workaround by passing the SQL INSERT statement to add a new record. Command1 demonstrates the problem. Command2 provides a workaround. Task One: Create Test Table and Stored Procedure ------------------------------------------------ For testing purpose, table TestTbl, is created in the Pubs database. To create a table in SQL Server, select the Pubs database, place the following Create Table T-SQL in the SQL window of ISQL/W and execute it: CREATE TABLE TestTbl (ID VarChar(20), Comment Text NULL) CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IDIndex ON TestTbl(ID) Task Two: Build the Visual Basic Code ------------------------------------- 1. Start a new project in Visual Basic and choose "Standard EXE". Form1 is created by default. 2. From the Project menu, select References, and then place a check next to Microsoft DAO 3.5 Object Library. 3. Add 2 CommandButtons, Command1, and Command2, to Form1. 4. Paste the following code in the General Declarations section of Form1: Option Explicit Dim wk As Workspace Dim cn As Connection Dim rs As Recordset Sub command1_Click() rs.AddNew rs("ID") = Now rs("Comment") = "Z" rs.Update rs.Move 0 rs.Bookmark = rs.LastModified Debug.Print "IsEmpty() Returns: " & IsEmpty(rs("Comment")) Debug.Print rs("Comment") End Sub Private Sub Command2_Click() Dim strSQL As String strSQL = "Insert Into TestTbl(ID, Comment) _ Values('" & Now & "', 'Z')" cn.Execute strSQL, dbExecDirect rs.Requery rs.MoveLast Debug.Print "IsEmpty() Returns: " & IsEmpty(rs("Comment")) Debug.Print rs("Comment") End Sub Private Sub Form_Load() Dim strConnect As String Set wk = CreateWorkspace("MyWrk", "", "", dbUseODBC) strConnect = "ODBC;DRIVER={SQL Server}; _ SERVER=MyServer;DATABASE=pubs;UID=sa;PWD=;" Set cn = wk.OpenConnection("", dbDriverNoPrompt, True, strConnect) Set rs = cn.OpenRecordset _ ("Select ID, Comment From TestTbl", dbOpenDynaset, , 3) End Sub Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer) rs.Close cn.Close End Sub 6. Note that you should change the SERVER, UID, and PWD parameters in the connection string. 7. Start the program or press the F5 key. Additional query words: sqlserver odbcdirect ====================================================================== Keywords : vb5all Technology : kbodbc Version : WINDOWS:5.0 Platform : WINDOWS Issue type : kbprb Solution Type : kbpending ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1997.