Convert varchar(8) to datetime

[MJV57]

Can anyone helpme with converting a varchar(8) column to a datetime value.
I try this but it fails:

CAST( startdate as datetime )

 

[markros]

Can you show some of your dates first?

 

[MJV57]

Example dates:

20090905
20091109

 

[bborissov]

First you must be sure that ALL records contains values that can be converted to datetime.

SELECT * FROM YourTable WHERE ISDATE(YourField) = 0

That will give you all records that can not be converted.
So your query should look like this:

SELECT CAST(YourField AS datetime) AS DateNameField
       FROM YourTable 
WHERE ISDATE(YourField) = 1

Borislav Borissov
VFP9 SP2, SQL Server 2000/2005.