Ken you are right, the @rc gets populated if the linked server does not exist, but if it does exist, and you get a failure, you still get nothing.  Try:

That's a good call, I wasn't aware sp_ExecuteSQL ran in a separte session. I'll have a go and report back how I get on.

Dave J

To set parallelism to 1 for a single query, use the option command

silly example:

select * from syscolumns a

union

select * from syscolumns ...

Dog'n'pony? Must be a colloquialism.

BTW, we must stop meeting like this

Dave J

Thanks for the input, but just found this.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316626 which states

The ANSI standard requires padding for the character strings used in comparisons so that their lengths match before comparing them.

It specifically...

Good isn't it. Still owe you a beer Jeff

Dave

The following code produces

x 1 2 3

a 1 2 3

b 4 5 6

c 7 8 9

/*

from thread found here http://www.sqlservercentral.com/forums/shwmessage.aspx?forumid=8&messageid=242919#bm243627

*/

declare @debug int

set @debug = 0  --Set to 1 if...

lol.

Thanks for the IsNull tip, I wasn't aware of that.  I would of thought thast IsNull did exactly what your code suggested 'under the hood' as it were.  If...

Cheers, I'll give these a go tomorrow (home time now)

No worries.  The smiley indicated I'd not taken offense

I'll click on the link as you suggest & we'll discuss further.

Dave J

Jamie

"I also looked at SQL 2005 Analysis Services, but dismissed it when I read MS had bought ProClarity and was repackaging it for release next year.  So their current...

I'm actively researching a BI solution now.  Or a MIS solution, choose the buzzword of your choice.  Products I've looked at are:

• Business Objects
• Cognos
• QueryObject
• QlikTech

I also looked at SQL...

Read this great quote the other week...

"I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my telephone. My wish has come true. I no longer...

I used TSM at the last place, V5.2 I think, and I never could get the Admin boys round to setting up Transaction Log backups going.