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Can somebody explain what this next statement is doing?

if exists (select * from sysobjects where id =
object_id(N'[dbo].[CLCHARGE]') and OBJECTPROPERTY(id, N'IsUserTable') = 1)
drop table [dbo].[CLCHARGE]
GO

More specifically, what does the N do?

Regards

N'string' indicates that the string is Unicode data. Please read about
Unicode in Books Online, and the datatypes nchar and nvarchar.

The code is just checking to see if a particular table exists before issuing
the drop command. Table names and property names are stored as Unicode
characters, so they use the N.

HTH
--
------------------------------------
Kalen Delaney
MCSE, SQL Server MCT, MVP
www.InsideSQLServer.com

Feed Someone for Free Today:
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Quote:> Can somebody explain what this next statement is doing?

> if exists (select * from sysobjects where id =
> object_id(N'[dbo].[CLCHARGE]') and OBJECTPROPERTY(id, N'IsUserTable') = 1)
> drop table [dbo].[CLCHARGE]
> GO

> More specifically, what does the N do?

> Regards

this syntax is checking for the existance of table CLCHARGE in your
db and drops it if it exists ,the  N' stands for unicode represnatation of
the string
becuase all system tables hold there data in unicode.

Danny Ravid VB MVP
Tadiran Information Systems

"It's One Small Step For Man ,One Giant Leap For Mankind....."
Neil Armstrong

Quote:> Can somebody explain what this next statement is doing?

> if exists (select * from sysobjects where id =
> object_id(N'[dbo].[CLCHARGE]') and OBJECTPROPERTY(id, N'IsUserTable') = 1)
> drop table [dbo].[CLCHARGE]
> GO

> More specifically, what does the N do?

> Regards

Reza,

Just a minor addition. The N, if I'm not mistaken, is the ANSI SQL standard
way to indicate Unicode, not just some peculiar invention from Microsoft.

Quote:> Can somebody explain what this next statement is doing?

> if exists (select * from sysobjects where id =
> object_id(N'[dbo].[CLCHARGE]') and OBJECTPROPERTY(id, N'IsUserTable') = 1)
> drop table [dbo].[CLCHARGE]
> GO

> More specifically, what does the N do?

> Regards

    Added to BP's point. Unicode strings are called NATIONAL CHARACTER
strings in ANSI SQL standards. Hence the N for representing unicode strings,
nchar, nvarchar & ntext.

--
Umachandar Jayachandran
MCDBA, MCSE + Internet, MCP + Internet, MCSE