FIX: "IF UPDATE" Functionality Does Not Work in SQL Server 6.5 Service Pack 5 and 5a (216700)

SYMPTOMS

Within a trigger on SQL Server 6.5 Service Pack 5 or 5a, the IF UPDATE clause will evaluate to true for all columns when an INSERT is performed, even if there is no value specified and no default value exists for the column. The expected behavior is detailed in the SQL Server 6.5 Books Online as follows:

Implicit and Explicit Null Values (SQL 6.5):

The IF UPDATE (column_name) clause is true for an INSERT statement whenever the column is assigned a value in the select list or in the VALUES clause. An explicit NULL or a default assigns a value to a column and thus activates the trigger. With an implicit NULL, if the value is not specified by the query or by the assigned default, the trigger on that column is not activated.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server version 6.5. This problem has been corrected in the Post Service Pack 5a Update for Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5. To install the Post Service Pack 5a Update, you must have either SQL Server 6.5 SP5 or SP5a installed.

For information about how to download and install the SQL Server 6.5 Service Pack 5a, refer to the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

197177 INF: How to Obtain SQL Server 6.5 Service Pack 5a

If you already have SQL Server 6.5 SP5 or SP5a installed, you can download the Post SP5a Update from the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

274036 INF: How to Obtain SQL Server 6.5 Post Service Pack 5a Update

For more information, contact your primary support provider.