Hello

I am querying a table and outputting data to a text file where each field is
separated by a tilda (~) . It works great. I notice that sometimes when
the fields have no data in them I get two tildas in a row (~~) which is what
I want. However, sometimes I get a field of blanks separated by the tildas
(~ ~) which is not what I want. There aren't hard spaces in those
data columns in the database. Is there a cute way in the transformation
process to give me the back to back tildas when there is no data in the
field?

Thanks everyone.

In message <3p3Xd.14697$Cg6.9327 (AT) twister (DOT) rdc-kc.rr.com>, Steve
<pezguy (AT) mn (DOT) rr.com> writes

There is data in those fields, check the length with LEN or similar in
T-SQL, spaces may not be visible in your query tool.

Or

The fields maybe fixed width (char) and the output driver treats this
similar to other data access, where by the date in the fields is treated
as padded if < the full length. (Guess really as untested).

--
Darren Green (SQL Server MVP)
DTS - http://www.sqldts.com

PASS - the definitive, global community for SQL Server professionals
http://www.sqlpass.org