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Function Left and IsNull together

  • March 16, 2017 at 6:55 am

    #336145

    Hello,

    How can I combine function Left and IsNull together?

    I am getting "Argument data type text is invalid for argument 1 of left function."


      select    left(isNull(tableA.notes,''),25) as MyNotes from dbo.tableA

    Thank you,
    Vinay

  • March 16, 2017 at 7:12 am

    #1933455

    The problem was not caused because you are using isnull and left together.   It was caused because your table is using the text data type.  Text data type should not be used.  It exists for backwards compatibility.  One of the problem with this data type is that string functions can not be used with it.  You can modify the code and cast it as varchar(max), but if you can modify the data type on the table, it would be better


    select  left(isNull(cast(tableA.notes as varchar(max)),''),25) as MyNotes from dbo.tableA

    Adi

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  • March 16, 2017 at 7:50 am

    #1933472

    Thank you Adi. 

    I can't change the column type. So this solution is fine for me. Insrtead of varchar(max) I only need max 25 characters.

    Vinay

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