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SQL Server: data is logged in the table as "Binary"

Why do entries that have been made to SQL Server using the OPC Data Logger appear as 'Binary' when viewed in SQL Server Enterprise Manager?

The data has logged to the database. A database stores specific types of data within each field such as ints, floats, bools, strings, etc. OPC values can be of any datatype.

The issue arises from converting 'any data type' to a 'specific data type' within the database. It is possible to log values of non-specific data types to a field within a database by using a generic data-type within the database. There are two options available.

  • STRING (or TEXT in SQL Server)
  • VARIANT (or SQL_VARIANT in SQL Server)

The string option will work for any data that does not need to be used within calculations. If the data needs to be used within a calculation, then the Variant option is the best choice.

Use the Query Analyzer that is installed with SQL Server to see actual data values instead of'<binary>' when running a report.