False difference on sql_variant column containing datetime2

Ian.Ferguson

I have a database table with a sql_variant column which contains a datetime2 value.

When I compare identical copies of my database SQL Data Compare reports differences on the sql_variant column.

However, the columns *are* identical and I've used SQL_VARIANT_PROPERTY(column, 'BaseType') to confirm the column does indeed contain datetime2 values.

Any solutions?

I had the same problem with SQL Data Compare 11 but lived with it.

Andrew F

I've had a quick go at reproducing this here but can't see the behaviour you are seeing.

Could you provide a script to set up a table and some dummy data to reproduce this?

Ian.Ferguson

Thanks for taking the time to look into this and my apologies for not getting back to you sooner.

There's nothing wrong with SQL Data Compare (well, we all knew that!), it's merge replication converting the contents of a sql_variant from datetime2 to nvarchar.