DOCUMENT:Q235281  13-JUN-2001  [odbc]
TITLE   :FIX: Negative 0 (zero) Causes ODBC SQL Server Driver Error
PRODUCT :Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
PROD/VER:WINDOWS:3.7; winnt:7.0
OPER/SYS:
KEYWORDS:kbSQLServ700bug kbDSupport kbSQLServ700sp2fix

======================================================================
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft SQL Server version 7.0 
 - Microsoft ODBC Driver for SQL Server, version 3.7 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

If a SQL Server query returns a negative zero, and the client application binds
the results as a SQL_C_DOUBLE, the following error is reported to the client:

   [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver]Invalid character value for cast
   specification

CAUSE
=====

SQL Server is returning a negative zero, and the SQL Server driver is reporting
this as an error. To reproduce the error run the following query:

   SELECT 0.0 * -1

When you fetch the resulting column from this query you receive the error. In a
more complex scenario the following query also causes the error:

   SELECT col1 * -1 FROM mytable

WORKAROUND
==========

Either bind the column as a SQL_C_CHAR or SQL_C_LONG to avoid the error. You can
also check that the resulting data does not contain a negative zero.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server 7.0. This problem has
been corrected in U.S. Service Pack 2 for Microsoft SQL Server 7.0. For
information about how to download and install the latest SQL Server Service
Pack, see the following Microsoft Web site:

   http://support.microsoft.com/highlights/sql.asp

For more information, contact your primary support provider.

Additional query words: ODBC

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbSQLServ700bug kbDSupport kbSQLServ700sp2fix 
Technology        : kbSQLServSearch kbAudDeveloper kbSQLServ700 kbODBCSearch kbODBCSQLServ370
Version           : WINDOWS:3.7; winnt:7.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS
PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.  MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  IN NO
EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF
MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION
OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES
SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.