SQL Server selecting a string from table using in clause

Question

I'm having a strange SQL Server issue.

Using the following query:

SELECT id FROM table WHERE id IN ('id1', 'id2', .......)

when id is nchar(30) and 'id1','id2' are values, I get a result which isn't in the values I entered.

Is it possible that SQL Server is searching for a string contained in the values?

Added

query:

SELECT Word FROM WordDictionary WHERE Word IN ('DESPERADO', 'WWW.MYSAVINGS.COM', 'RELIED', 'GALS/GUYS....U', 'MISSOULA', 'STARING...WHY', 'OHIO,,,WHAT', 'ALEYO"MEANS', 'EXCRETE', 'POETERS', 'REMOVAL?IF', 'MOTOT', 'VIEW/SOUND', 'SCHOLD', 'FLINGS', '300000', 'BIGBANG', 'INVOKE', 'COMPLIER', 'UPNISHAD', 'FLUFF/LINT', 'DONATED?..PLEASE', 'EPHEDRINE', 'AGAIN-', 'WHUNT', 'LEVE', 'ARIEL', 'SEIZURES,AND', 'ANYON', 'WELL~AS', 'GGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDD', 'ALGERIA', 'LONDON...CAN', 'TWAIN''S', 'BUTIFUL', 'CIRRHIOSIS', 'PHP-NUKE', 'SCREWD', 'RECONNECT', 'BAND...''SIGUR', 'ROS''', 'DEFLEPOARD', 'FIHGT', 'DRE''S', 'ACQUAINTED', '77067', 'INCREASE/DECREASE', 'AWHILE..SHOULD', 'BABY???..MORE', 'CHRISTEN', 'SUNSLIFE', 'HYANCINTHS', 'NOVEMEBER', 'IEEE', 'IRENE', '5"4', 'BAYSIDE', 'DOJO', 'PEOPLES::DO', 'INFORMATION/ANSWER', 'BLACKWORM', 'MYWIFE.D', '42D', 'COLONEL', 'ESCAPES', 'KW', 'WASH/CLENSE', 'ENCOURAGES', 'HOLINESS', '4710', 'MONOATOMIC', 'FORM-', 'NAVIGATIONS', 'ASHLIEY(TWINS', 'ALIAS....WHAT', 'MARIOKART', 'HORNYNESS', 'CONVERSIONS', 'NUIT', 'PARISTEL:0660442290PL06', 'PUSSY', 'WILLOWS', 'BOYFRIEND/BABYDADDY', 'PARASITES', 'TABOILD', 'J.T', 'TERESEA', '---FREE---', 'KAMORA', 'SIMONS', 'FORSYTHIA', 'RAZORTHOUGHT', 'ABSINTHE', '9-3', 'BAIT-CASTING', 'CUMULATIVE', 'HELP>>>', 'MATZO', 'LIMOSINE', 'SCD353', 'BANGARAM', 'BRUNEL', 'KWTV878', 'NEAPOLITAN', 'OFYOUR', '2SIN', '²', '3SINX', 'IMPERFECTION', 'NONBELIEF', 'FLEM', 'NON-ADJACENT', 'WASHINGTION', 'WHERE/IF', 'BRONTE''S', 'WUTHERING', 'SOMEONE/A', 'TEAM.WHAT', 'PRESIDENT,WHEN', 'DIRICHLET', 'X-AND', 'Y-INTERCEPTS', 'STAMPED', 'PROCRDURE', 'AK32', '*67', 'HANUKKAH', 'MONIE', 'TAGAYTAY', 'NATURES', 'HASS', 'TORMENTS', 'PROPOTIONAL', 'SUDERLAND', 'CONROL', 'CONSEQUENCE', 'SAW?YOU', 'WITHDREW', 'PMT', 'JAIL?WAT', 'DEFFEND', '-12>8X', '4X>6', 'MX-C550', '6-DISC', 'SVQ3', 'BULLSHITING', 'PWEAZE', '23SECONDS', 'VISHWANATHAN''S', 'INTERNALIZING', 'MCCAFFERTY''S', 'TODAY...AND', 'CHANCE....WOULD', 'DEC.''41', '''45', 'HAILLE', 'SELASSIE', 'OF...GREENDAY', 'DEAD/ARMY', 'EX-NFL', 'JACKSONVILLE,FL', 'ATLANTA,HOUSTON,OR', 'ECCENTRICITY', 'CONIC', 'XXX@YAHOO.CO.UK', 'XXX@YAHOO.COM', 'DISCRET', '_______', 'ROMACE', 'SUBCATEGORY', 'REDUDUCE', 'EXERCISER', 'MUNITE', 'MESSENGER.SO', 'NIGEL', 'PLANER', 'QUESTION?31576*66496139', 'KODJOE', '919', '1847', 'D.WADE', 'HUMAN''S', 'MULTI-NATIONAL', 'GOGGLE', 'GAAP', 'CONFUSED.IONT', 'ST8', 'ROOM/HOME', 'BOLB', 'GRANDMA-', 'PARSON', 'BELIZE', 'UNITY', 'AWARDS''', 'TOGHTHER', 'LONDON+GREATER', 'JERSEY...IE', 'NETGAR', 'NBC,ABC', 'CONON', 'RECIDENT', 'CANCERS', 'PITTSBURGH/INDY', 'CREATETH', 'MUSICAL''S', 'HEELLLLPPPP', 'MASRER', 'NAME,AND', 'ANAEROBIC', 'SPACIAL', 'SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT', 'TRIGNOCEPHALY', 'RAW''S', 'BLOGGIN', '9.2', 'FLATTENING', 'FLOWER,ANIMALAND', 'EXPRESSES', 'FRDS', 'NOT?PLS', 'CLEARIFY', 'CLEARFIELD/JEFFERSON', 'HACE', 'FELICIANO', 'MEDICINE--THEY', 'DASCHUND', 'PLINTER', 'SKETCHY', 'I..WHAT', 'JUVENTINA', 'SOMUCH', 'SHEEN', 'HALEX', '11-IN-1', 'URBANIZATION', 'WILWOOD', 'CALIPER', 'NERVE-RACKING', 'OBSESESSION', 'EZRA', 'TALBOT', 'SHOCKWAVE', 'PASCO', '300$-600$', '108,000', '*BOYZ', 'ONLY*PLZ', 'INTERNET)CAN', 'CONCISE', 'TOP40', 'HICUPPS', '4:00', 'OPOSITE', 'NETWORKER?=', 'Q-LINK', 'HSG', 'AMINE', 'RIGHTS,,HOW', 'EMILIANO', 'PEDREGON', 'DILEMA', 'GROUPTHINK', 'MONTEAL', '17...&', '13:04', 'NASHIK', 'NOBIA', 'LINEWIRE', 'ISOCKS', 'DAY........WAIT', 'KATY', 'BODERLINE', 'CONNORS', 'WHWRE', 'CROMWELL', 'COE', '1+1=', 'UMMM.....WHATS', 'BOND''S', 'VIEWLOADER', 'MAXIS', 'MAT_LOVE83@YAHOO.COM', 'SCISSORS', 'UNSANITARY', 'KANSANS', 'SALINA', '''ARENA''', '''CAROLINA''', 'BIOMAGNIFICATION', 'BIOASSIMILATION', 'WOMBATS', 'POOS', 'ARSES', 'SOCIALIZATION', 'GROUPS,RACES', 'FULL-BLOOD', 'TASMANIAN', 'INCLINE', 'PICA', 'FIGGERED', '9.HE', 'RETINOBLASTOMA,IS', 'COAT''S', '2MOWRO', 'DOTHAN', 'DIFRNT', 'DEPICTS', 'WHAK', 'NETHERLAND', 'FORTHE', 'OFMICROSOFT', 'INDIGO', 'I-MAC', 'SHANGHAINESE', 'DINOSAOUR', 'SUBCAMPS', 'CARDINAL', 'NEBRASKA''S', 'KOMO', 'PIRATE/SAILING', 'ZOPICLONE', 'CRYPTIC', 'CLUE"COULD', 'WHEELCHAIR,NO', 'OVERWIEGHT.DOES', 'ALL..MY', 'BOYFRIIEND', 'MAGTECH', 'TROUBLES...ANY', 'BACK,REDUCED', 'JEWELY', 'CRAFTSMEN''S', 'HAUNTER', 'GENGAR', 'CRYSTAL.WHERE', 'LAHORE', 'SANDLER''S', 'ACCENT...WHAT', 'WOOOOOAAAAAAAAH', 'W''T', 'RAJASEKARAN_NIKIL@YAHOO.COM', 'SPEICES', 'MCFLY', 'BIOCONVERSION', 'GUERRERO', 'CATHOLICS......WHAT', 'NOV.1--', 'ECONOLINE', 'AMOVIE', 'COUNSELLING', 'HANDSPAN', 'ATTIUTE', 'HAIR??HELP', 'PLASTIC?CERAMIC', 'TITLEIST', 'REISDENTS', '7''S', 'FERMATS', 'JBW&CWW', 'RB''S', 'KENYON', 'BAPTIST''S', 'THUMPERS', 'THOZ', 'HATZ', 'MSNISMS', 'POLL/SURVEY', 'INFUSION', 'FUNDRAISER', 'PROTECTS', 'ANTOINO', 'SYALLBUS', 'GCSES', 'SPIDER,SNAKE,DOG,CAT', 'KNOW.PLEASE', 'CHACH', 'DISSAPIONTED', 'TODGER', 'SH*TTING', 'LODESTONE', 'SARBANES', 'OXLEY', 'ANOTHR', 'RELATIONSHIP????HOW', 'T9', 'JIGGLY', 'GOOD?IS', 'HARDEN', 'DESERT?I', 'SIGNIFANT', 'WEDO', 'SCHAT', 'LQ', 'TENCHI', 'ME...WHAT''S', 'ERUPTED', '£40', '£150', 'UPGRATE', 'I500', '2003SE', 'PROMOT', 'SALUTES', 'GRAEME', 'SOUNESS', 'SERRONE', 'AHAVE', 'BUSTSA', 'IMPARTIAL', 'SUGARCULT', 'RFID', 'SWIPE', '30X', 'HOUSE''S', 'BI-WAY', 'BLYTHE,CA', 'REDDER', 'PLUMPER', 'LEFTWINGERS', 'WHINGE', 'ANNOYING..!!1', 'SENSORY', 'ADHD/ODD', 'ZYBAN', 'RAMP', 'SUB-WOOFER''S', 'TATTOOIST', '477', 'SOFISTCATED', 'B/J', 'ALLURE', 'THIS?(SEE', 'PAKISTANIS:DO', 'PLEASE?I', 'CLASHING', 'KNOW(DOCS', 'WHITESMOKE', 'SCREEN''S', 'SPINK', 'YOUI', 'DELICATE', 'MISDIAGNOSED', 'DIPERNO', 'HIM.PLEASE', '45CM', '35CM', 'ENOUGHT', 'DECIMETERS?PUT', 'RDMB', 'HOMELOANS', 'HAA', 'ORIGIANL', 'RESTON', 'ZINNIAS', 'PERENNIAL', 'WHOOPIE', 'CUSHIONS', 'POOFS', 'CAT,ITS', 'TIME,ITS', 'TUXEDOS', 'CHICKAN', 'WHISLE', 'RUMBLING', '7LEVELS', 'YOUFROM', 'CEMO', 'RECURRENT', 'LARYNGEAL', 'W/NO', 'SOUCRE', 'COMMA', 'WORDCUB', 'WOMEN:HAVE', 'PIGGYBACK', 'ANOLE', 'CHRISTIANSEN', 'SWEEPSTAKES,GETTING', 'WON.HOW', 'EUDORA5.1', 'EXPRESS,NETSCAPE4.X', '6.X', '''COURT', 'WISK''', '4/13', '50-70', 'DAUGHTER,CAN', 'UVULA', '''AYURVEDA''', 'ACUPUNTURE', 'BAJA', 'REASONIBLE', 'PUZZY', 'SORCERER', 'DISEASES/SICKNESS', 'ANUS/RECTUM?CAN', 'HOME?WHAT', 'COCETH', 'KELLOGGS', 'DAISUKE')

result:

2

Added

CREATE TABLE [dbo].[WordDictionary](
[Word] [nchar](30) NOT NULL,
[Count] [int] NOT NULL,
    CONSTRAINT [PK_WordDictionary] PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED 
    (
      [Word] ASC
    )WITH (PAD_INDEX  = OFF, STATISTICS_NORECOMPUTE  = OFF, IGNORE_DUP_KEY = OFF,     
       ALLOW_ROW_LOCKS  = ON, ALLOW_PAGE_LOCKS  = ON) ON [PRIMARY]
    ) ON [PRIMARY]

Answer 1

Your IN list contains the item '²'.

I'll be very surprised if that isn't the source of the issue (though it doesn't actually match for me under my default collation)

Answer 2

Try making the strings in the IN() clause Unicode by prefixing with N

IN (N'Id1', N'Id2',...)

Answer 3

AFAIK, SQL Server would respond as you and I are both expecting. So I knocked up a little test example. and sure enough, I got only the results expected.

With it being a text column, using LIKE/BETWEEN and other similar clauses can cause problems if you are not careful, but WHERE IN should be fairly clear cut.

I suggest you post some DDL + DML that includes both the 'good' and the unexpected results. In theory, you are doing the right thing, but until we see what you are working with, we won't be able to spot the 'gotcha'.

Answer 4

select * from test 
where data IN ('Aa' COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CS_AS, 'Ab' COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CS_AS)