What deos the "N" and "::" Mean

• GF

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  May 17, 2006 at 11:15 am

  #112246

  I should know this but I don't so here is the question. when generating a script in EM the statement looks something like this:

  if exists (select * from dbo.sysobjects where id = object_id(N'[dbo].[Gary_test]') and OBJECTPROPERTY(id, N'IsProcedure') = 1)

  drop procedure [dbo].[Gary_test]

  I unsert stand the script just fine except I have never known what the "N" means or what it is there for.

  When using a function BOL lists something like this:

  USE pubs

  SELECT * INTO temp_trc

  FROM ::fn_trace_gettable(c:\my_trace.trc", default)

  What do the two colons :: do or mean.

  Thanks

  Gary

   

   

• David McFarland

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  May 17, 2006 at 12:25 pm

  #638523

  The N denotes that that string is Unicode. Think of nvarchar versus varchar.

  I don't remember the reasoning, but I'm pretty sure that "::" precedes system UDFs, i.e. built-in ones.

• noeld

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  May 17, 2006 at 4:20 pm

  #638601

  N stands for National Language in SQL92 and is used to denote unicode literals

  :: Denotes GLOBAL SCOPE in other words system scope

   

  
  * Noel