This question is probably quite stupid, but I haven't run into a situation like this before and I am still learning SQL.

I have a database made by a predecessor that has data being dumped into it from another program via SQL. The fields in the tables of this database were all set to text data types, regardless of their real type.

My question is : if I change the data types to what they should be, will the SQL statements still run without a hitch and just dump the data in anyway?

Operative word being "should", yes, they should... Obviously, if they are dumping MMV instead of 2005 into a "year" column and you define that column as either an INT or a DATE, then SQL will pitch a fit, while it would happily accept either one as TEXT.

-PatP

The real crazy thing is the statement is dumping system date and time into text fields and some text into text fields and a tone of ints into text fields.

I can partially understand why it was done like that at the time, as it was only used for ocassional reports then. But now, 6 years later, we need to pull that data for trending purposes. Perhaps I am being to greedy in wanting some thought to the future?

At least in most organizations, that is clearly forbidden by company policy. I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you.

Anywho, with an attitude like yours (trying to do a good job, in spite of technical and peronnel issues), you'll fit right in around here! feel free to drop by the Yak Corral for an opportunity to "vent your spleen" about issues like that, or just wander about dbforums to give/receive technical support!

-PatP