Try this from Query Analyzer...

EXEC Master.dbo.xp_DirTree 'C:\',0,1

Then, read up on the dangers of using undocumented features.  Also keep in mind that Microsoft can also change or eliminate API's just as...

SQLBill,

I'm amazed at how many folks don't know about the STUFF function... you beat me to it...

That's why instant messaging works great. It's like a conversation between two people.

I just can't bring myself...

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the feedback.... using the data in my test table, the function you built runs out of gas on the small numbers no matter how many decimal places...

Khanh,

If you came up with a solution different than any of those posted, would you share it with us?  Thanks...

The easy way to figure this out (find the problem) is to just type out the SELECT as you normally would...

Then, everywhere you see a single quote, add another single quote...

Nope... not a problem... I knew it wasn't personal... you're right about the daily date questions and the "mistrakes" folks make doing things on a global basis.  Shoot, I still have guys...

Careful... won't get down into the decimal places...

TestValue                                                                        

---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------

1245600085.0000000000000000000           1246000000.00000000

124560008.5000000000000000000            124600000.00000000

12456000.8500000000000000000             12460000.00000000

1245600.0850000000000000000              1246000.00000000

124560.0085000000000000000               124600.00000000

12456.0008500000000000000                12460.00000000

1245.6000850000000000000                 1246.00000000

124.5600085000000000000                  124.60000000

12.4560008500000000000                   12.46000000

1.2456000850000000000                    1.24600000

(11 row(s) affected)

Server: Msg 8134, Level 16, State 1, Line...

You bet... and to confirm, yes, CHAR(9) is the tab character.  You might be able to simplify things if you used the tabl character as a delimiter in the import...

Yep... that too.  For the record, there is no TRIM function in SQL Server 7 or 2000... just LTRIM and RTRIM.  Dunno about 2005.

Nicely done.  Obviously, we can't get away from a looping structure but this eliminates the cursor that so many dislike and has a couple of tricks in it that you...

Yep, you're right on the setting of the variable... but hopefully every one realizes that was just to demo.  The rest shouldn't be a problem as I used fixed formats...

I like "simple" when I can get away with it ... here's my take on the date part thingy...

--===== Create a...

By using some "JBM PFM"... this is actually a programable converter in that you can program the number of significant digits just by changing the contents of a single variable......

You can find out if they are spaces or characters that look like spaces (assuming that all the rows for a given column have leading spaces)...

SELECT ACSII(LEFT(columnname,1))

FROM yourtable

If the come...