Avoid Statement Termination due to possible string truncation.

  • Hi,

    "string or binary data would be truncated. the statement has been terminated"

    This is a very common error about possible truncation of data when we try to insert something bigger than the column size. Let's say the column size is varchar(20) and we try to insert string of size 21 then we get this error.

    My question is "Is there a way to tell SQL Server to please go ahead and truncate the data and don't terminate the query "?

    I have a scenario where I would like it to truncate and insert only as much as possible. But i don't want to stop the query execution.

    Many Thanks

  • Yes, you with the following
    [Code]SET ANSI_WARNINGS OFF;

    --INSERT  operation

    SET ANSI_WARNINGS ON;[/code]
    It's important to remember to switch the warnings back on afterwards.

    Personally, however, rather than allowing the truncation, consider using LEFT.

    Thom~

    Excuse my typos and sometimes awful grammar. My fingers work faster than my brain does.
    Larnu.uk

  • Thanks Thom,

    But this would just disappear the warning. Let me make it more clear about what i am looking for

    create table TEST_INSERT
    (id int , name varchar (3))

    GO 

    INSERT INTO TEST_INSERT
    SELECT 1, 'FOUR'

    In case the warnings are on i get the error, otherwise it says completed successfully and in both cases nothing gets inserted.
    What I am looking for is to have the first 3 characters inserted and the rest ignored.
    I cannot use a LEFT/SUBSTRING function as I am trying to fetch data from a linked server.

    Thanks.

  • funooni - Sunday, January 21, 2018 6:23 AM

    Thanks Thom,

    But this would just disappear the warning. Let me make it more clear about what i am looking for

    create table TEST_INSERT
    (id int , name varchar (3))

    GO 

    INSERT INTO TEST_INSERT
    SELECT 1, 'FOUR'

    In case the warnings are on i get the error, otherwise it says completed successfully and in both cases nothing gets inserted.
    What I am looking for is to have the first 3 characters inserted and the rest ignored.
    I cannot use a LEFT/SUBSTRING function as I am trying to fetch data from a linked server.

    Thanks.

    Have you tried what I provided? And what does using a linked server have to do with not being able to use LEFT?

    Thom~

    Excuse my typos and sometimes awful grammar. My fingers work faster than my brain does.
    Larnu.uk

  • funooni - Sunday, January 21, 2018 6:23 AM

    What I am looking for is to have the first 3 characters inserted and the rest ignored. 

    As far as I know, there is no setting which will allow this to happen. You need to fix the data prior to insert.

    If you haven't even tried to resolve your issue, please don't expect the hard-working volunteers here to waste their time providing links to answers which you could easily have found yourself.

  • Thom A - Sunday, January 21, 2018 6:43 AM

    Have you tried what I provided? And what does using a linked server have to do with not being able to use LEFT?

    +1, can't see issue.

    ...

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