I'm thinking it just might be something else because the following works just fine and without any error...

select datediff( hh, 'May 17 2002 9:53', 'May 18 2002 9:53')

Don't worry, Gail... we considered the source

...but when doing that I must maintain the sequence of un-duplicated numbers

Commando...

I think the quote above explains it...

A good ol' batch file that uses OSQL or BCP would be easy enough... and, then, the user could provide whatever filename they wanted as a parameter.

Choose wisely and carefully... you get one clustered index per table.  And, just because you have a clustered index on a table does not guarantee it will be used... you...

If the naming differences are that bad, generate scripts for all the views from EnterPrise Manger, drop all the views, recreate the views using the script.

This should do it... don't worry about the couple of strings you see... this is still pretty darned fast and they make it independent of the @@DATEFIRST setting... (you can...

Sorry... had posted a solution here (and deleted it) for hours that didn't take into account days that were on the weekends... I'll be right back with the correction....

This will give you whole days... modify the "ends" of the range to do hours... also, not affected by @@DATEFIRST settings...  very fast... very simple...

 SELECT (DATEDIFF(dd,@StartDate,@EndDate)+1)

       -(DATEDIFF(wk,@StartDate,@EndDate)*2)

      ...

Also, have you looked into using sp_AddLinkedServer... it, in fact, supports links to DB2.  See Books Online,

You could use Sp_ExecuteSQL but then you'd still end up with a table variable that cannot be made to use statistics...

If it were me, I'd use a temp table instead...

Sorry, Remi... that wasn't directed at you... I got so ticked at the mere suggestion that such a simple data manipulation be done...

 Ok... I know... "put up or shut up, Jeff"... fine Let's see you do it any simpler in an app

I try to use my memory... but I forget...

Serqiy... You really that old ?