All, I have a large (unavoidable) dynamic SQL query. Due to the number of fields in the selection criteria the string containing the dynamic SQL is growing over 4000 chars. Now, I understand that there is a 4000 max set for NVARCHAR(MAX)
, but looking at the executed SQL in Server Profiler for the statement
DELARE @SQL NVARCHAR(MAX);
SET @SQL = 'SomeMassiveString > 4000 chars...';
EXEC(@SQL);
GO
Seems to work(!?), for another query that is also large it throws an error which is associated with this 4000 limit(!?), it basically trims all of the SQL after this 4000 limit and leaves me with a syntax error. Despite this in the profiler, it is showing this dynamic SQL query in full(!?).
What exactly is happening here and should I just be converting this @SQL variable to VARCHAR and get on with it?
Thanks for your time.
Ps. It would also be nice to be able to print out more than 4000 chars to look at these big queries. The following are limited to 4000
SELECT CONVERT(XML, @SQL);
PRINT(@SQL);
is there any other cool way?
I understand that there is a 4000 max set for
NVARCHAR(MAX)
Your understanding is wrong. nvarchar(max)
can store up to (and beyond sometimes) 2GB of data (1 billion double byte characters).
From nchar and nvarchar in Books online the grammar is
nvarchar [ ( n | max ) ]
The |
character means these are alternatives. i.e. you specify either n
or the literal max
.
If you choose to specify a specific n
then this must be between 1 and 4,000 but using max
defines it as a large object datatype (replacement for ntext
which is deprecated).
In fact in SQL Server 2008 it seems that for a variable the 2GB limit can be exceeded indefinitely subject to sufficient space in tempdb
(Shown here)
Regarding the other parts of your question
varchar(n) + varchar(n)
will truncate at 8,000 characters.nvarchar(n) + nvarchar(n)
will truncate at 4,000 characters.varchar(n) + nvarchar(n)
will truncate at 4,000 characters. nvarchar
has higher precedence so the result is nvarchar(4,000)
[n]varchar(max)
+ [n]varchar(max)
won't truncate (for < 2GB).varchar(max)
+ varchar(n)
won't truncate (for < 2GB) and the result will be typed as varchar(max)
.varchar(max)
+ nvarchar(n)
won't truncate (for < 2GB) and the result will be typed as nvarchar(max)
.nvarchar(max)
+ varchar(n)
will first convert the varchar(n)
input to nvarchar(n)
and then do the concatenation. If the length of the varchar(n)
string is greater than 4,000 characters the cast will be to nvarchar(4000)
and truncation will occur.If you use the N
prefix and the string is <= 4,000 characters long it will be typed as nvarchar(n)
where n
is the length of the string. So N'Foo'
will be treated as nvarchar(3)
for example. If the string is longer than 4,000 characters it will be treated as nvarchar(max)
If you don't use the N
prefix and the string is <= 8,000 characters long it will be typed as varchar(n)
where n
is the length of the string. If longer as varchar(max)
For both of the above if the length of the string is zero then n
is set to 1.
1. The CONCAT
function doesn't help here
DECLARE @A5000 VARCHAR(5000) = REPLICATE('A',5000);
SELECT DATALENGTH(@A5000 + @A5000),
DATALENGTH(CONCAT(@A5000,@A5000));
The above returns 8000 for both methods of concatenation.
2. Be careful with +=
DECLARE @A VARCHAR(MAX) = '';
SET @A+= REPLICATE('A',5000) + REPLICATE('A',5000)
DECLARE @B VARCHAR(MAX) = '';
SET @B = @B + REPLICATE('A',5000) + REPLICATE('A',5000)
SELECT DATALENGTH(@A),
DATALENGTH(@B);`
Returns
-------------------- --------------------
8000 10000
Note that @A
encountered truncation.
You are getting truncation either because you are concatenating two non max
datatypes together or because you are concatenating a varchar(4001 - 8000)
string to an nvarchar
typed string (even nvarchar(max)
).
To avoid the second issue simply make sure that all string literals (or at least those with lengths in the 4001 - 8000 range) are prefaced with N
.
To avoid the first issue change the assignment from
DECLARE @SQL NVARCHAR(MAX);
SET @SQL = 'Foo' + 'Bar' + ...;
To
DECLARE @SQL NVARCHAR(MAX) = '';
SET @SQL = @SQL + N'Foo' + N'Bar'
so that an NVARCHAR(MAX)
is involved in the concatenation from the beginning (as the result of each concatenation will also be NVARCHAR(MAX)
this will propagate)
Make sure you have "results to grid" mode selected then you can use
select @SQL as [processing-instruction(x)] FOR XML PATH
The SSMS options allow you to set unlimited length for XML
results. The processing-instruction
bit avoids issues with characters such as <
showing up as <
.