Is this an SQL bug (SQL 2000)?

Hi....
Can anyone explain the following results:
CREATE TABLE A
(
A varchar(256) NOT NULL
)
go
INSERT INTO A VALUES('test')
go
SELECT * FROM A WHERE A LIKE 'test'
go
=> Returns 1 row
DECLARE @.mytest varchar
SET @.mytest = 'test'
SELECT * FROM A WHERE A LIKE @.mytest
go
=> Returns nothing! Why?
thanks,
Neil
"neilsolent" <neil@.solenttechnology.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1172825344.594113.234760@.j27g2000cwj.googlegr oups.com...
> Hi....
> Can anyone explain the following results:
> CREATE TABLE A
> (
> A varchar(256) NOT NULL
> )
> go
> INSERT INTO A VALUES('test')
> go
> SELECT * FROM A WHERE A LIKE 'test'
> go
> => Returns 1 row
> DECLARE @.mytest varchar
> SET @.mytest = 'test'
> SELECT * FROM A WHERE A LIKE @.mytest
> go
> => Returns nothing! Why?
>
Not a bug.
"DECLARE @.mytest varchar" is equivalent to "DECLARE @.mytest varchar(1)".
So your second SELECT statement is equivalent to "SELECT * FROM A WHERE A
LIKE 't'".
Always specify the size for VARCHAR/NVARCHAR.
David Portas, SQL Server MVP
Whenever possible please post enough code to reproduce your problem.
Including CREATE TABLE and INSERT statements usually helps.
State what version of SQL Server you are using and specify the content
of any error messages.
SQL Server Books Online:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/library/ms130214(en-US,SQL.90).aspx