BUG: Table Designer Gives an Error with Quotes in a Column Name

• Microsoft SQL Server version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

When designing a table in Enterprise Manager, you may receive the following error message:

The name <string> is invalid because it is empty, contains invalid
characters, or is too long.

CAUSE

This error occurs when you try to create a column name that includes a single quotation mark. This can occur either when you create a new table or rename a column in an existing table. The error occurs even if the column name is delimited with square brackets.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, try one of the following:

• If you are creating a new table, use the CREATE TABLE statement with square brackets to create the table in Query Analyzer, as in the following example:
  

  
        CREATE TABLE table1 ([a'b] int NOT NULL)
   

  -or-



• If you are trying to rename a column for an existing table, use the sp_rename stored procedure with square brackets to change the column definition in Query Analyzer. For example, you can change the column name of [col1] on table [table1] to [col'1] by using the following statement in Query Analyzer:
  

  
        EXEC SP_RENAME [table1.col1], [col'1], 'COLUMN'
   

  -or-



• If you want to use Enterprise Manager, do not include a single quotation mark in the column name.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server version 7.0.

Additional query words: Design Table Designer MMC SEM err msg quote

Keywords          : SSrvEntMan kbbug7.00 
Version           : WINNT:7.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug 

Last Reviewed: April 19, 1999