'Select top 10 * ...' returns data but 'Select * ..' does not

[paddymullaney@btopenworld.com]

Hi

I have a query that is performing very strangely.

I f I put a top statement in it returns rows,

so

Select top 10 * from .......

returns 10 rows

but without it then no data is returned

Select * from ..........

returns 0 rows.

[paddymullaney@btopenworld.com]

Re: 'Select top 10 * ...' returns data but 'Select * ..' does not

The problem lay in a join to another database on a datatype of
sqlvariant.

BOL shows how the sql_variant comparison rules work. I needed to bypass
these for data in rows after my top 10 list provided.


I had to use openquery and cast the datatype first to get a join.