How to Convert 'mmddyyyy' VARCHAR Strings to DATETIME in SQL Server 2008?

SQL Server VARCHAR to DATETIME Conversion: A Practical Solution

Direct conversion of date strings (like "mmddyyyy") to DATETIME in SQL Server 2008 can be problematic. The standard CONVERT function often fails. This guide offers a reliable workaround.

The key is to reformat the input string before conversion. Here's a step-by-step solution:

1. String Decomposition: Use string manipulation functions (like SUBSTRING) to extract the month, day, and year components from the "mmddyyyy" string.
2. String Reconstruction: Reconstruct the string into the "yyyymmdd" format, which SQL Server readily understands. This involves concatenating the year, month, and day in the correct order.
3. Final Conversion: Apply the CONVERT function to the reformatted "yyyymmdd" string to achieve the desired DATETIME data type.

This method effectively avoids the common "out-of-range datetime value" error, enabling seamless conversion of "mmddyyyy" strings into DATETIME values within SQL Server 2008.

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