SQLines tools can help you transfer data, convert database schema (DDL), views, stored procedures, functions, triggers, queries and SQL scripts from SAP SQL Anywhere, Sybase SQL Anywhere, Sybase Adaptive Server Anywhere (Sybase ASA) to Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL, MS SQL), Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse.

Databases:

• SAP Sybase SQL Anywhere 17, 16, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7 and 5.x
• Microsoft SQL Server 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008, 2005 and 2000, Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse

See also Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise to SQL Server Migration.

SQLines SQL Converter converts database schema (DDL), queries and DML statements, views, stored procedures, functions and triggers from Sybase SQL Anywhere to SQL Server.

The tool converts SQL scripts and standalone SQL statements. To migrate data and database schema from a live Sybase ASA database use SQLines Data tool.

Try SQLines Online or download a Desktop Version. For more information, see Overview.

SQLines Data is a high performance data transfer, schema conversion and data validation tool for Sybase ASA to SQL Server migration. For more information, see SQLines Data.

• Identifiers
• SQL Language Elements
• Data Types
• Built-in SQL Functions
• SELECT Statement
• CREATE TABLE
• CREATE FUNCTION
• CREATE PROCEDURE
• CREATE TRIGGER
• Procedural SQL Statements

Converting identifiers:

	Sybase SQL Anywhere		SQL Server
1	Constraint names are unique per table		Constraint names are unique within a database more...
2	Default constraint name for a foreign key is the primary key table name		Constraint, table names must be unique within a database more...

Converting SQL and T/SQL language elements:

	Sybase SQL Anywhere		SQL Server
1	'a' + 'b'	String concatenation	'a' + 'b'
2	// (Double slash)	Single line comment	-- (Double hyphen)
3	--
4	/* */	Multi-line comment	/* */
5	IF condition THEN exp ELSE exp2 ENDIF	IF expression	CASE WHEN condition THEN exp ELSE exp2 END
6	SQLCODE	Error code of last operation	@@ERROR

Data type mapping from Sybase SQL Anywhere to SQL Server:

	Sybase SQL Anywhere		SQL Server
1	BIGINT	64-bit integer	BIGINT
2	BINARY(n)	Variable-length binary string, 1 ⇐ n ⇐ 32767	VARBINARY(n)
3	BINARY VARYING(n)	Variable-length binary string, 1 ⇐ n ⇐ 32767	VARBINARY(n)
4	BIT	0 or 1 value; NULL is not allowed	BIT
5	BIT VARYING(n)	Variable-length bit array, 1 ⇐ n ⇐ 32767	BINARY(n/8)
6	CHAR(n), CHARACTER(n)	Variable-length string, not padded, 1 ⇐ n ⇐ 32767	VARCHAR(n)
7	DATE	Date (year, month and day)	DATE
8	DATETIME	Date and time with fraction	DATETIME2(6)
9	DATETIMEOFFSET	Date and time with fraction and time zone	DATETIMEOFFSET(6)
10	DECIMAL(p,s), DEC(p,s)	Fixed point number	DECIMAL(p,s), DEC(p,s)
11	DOUBLE [PRECISION]	Double-precision floating-point number	FLOAT
12	FLOAT(p)	Floating-point number	FLOAT(p)
13	IMAGE	Binary data, ⇐ 2G	VARBINARY(max)
14	INTEGER, INT	32-bit integer	INTEGER, INT
15	LONG BINARY	Binary data, ⇐ 2G	VARBINARY(max)
16	LONG BIT VARYING	Bit array data, ⇐ 2G	VARBINARY(max)
17	LONG NVARCHAR	UTF-8 character data, ⇐ 2G	NVARCHAR(max)
18	LONG VARBIT	Bit array data, ⇐ 2G	VARBINARY(max)
19	LONG VARCHAR	Character data, ⇐ 2G	VARCHAR(max)
20	MONEY	Monetary data	MONEY
21	NCHAR(n)	Fixed-length UTF-8 string, 1 ⇐ n ⇐ 32767	NCHAR(n)
22	NTEXT	UTF-8 character data, ⇐ 2G	NVARCHAR(max)
23	NUMERIC(p,s)	Fixed point number	NUMERIC(p,s)
24	NVARCHAR(n)	Variable-length UTF-8 string, 1 ⇐ n ⇐ 32767	NVARCHAR(n)
25	REAL	Single-precision floating-point number	REAL
26	SMALLDATETIME	Date and time with fraction	DATETIME2(6)
27	SMALLINT	16-bit integer	SMALLINT
28	SMALLMONEY	Monetary data, ⇐ million currency units	SMALLMONEY
29	TEXT	Character data, ⇐ 2G	VARCHAR(max)
30	TIME	Time (hour, minute, second and fraction)	TIME(6)
31	TIMESTAMP	Date and time with fraction	DATETIME2(6)
32	TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE	Date and time with fraction and time zone	DATETIMEOFFSET(6)
33	TINYINT	8-bit unsigned integer, 0 to 255	TINYINT
34	UNIQUEIDENTIFIER	16-byte GUID (UUID) data	UNIQUEIDENTIFIER
35	UNIQUEIDENTIFIERSTR	GUID (UUID) data in string format	CHAR(36)
36	UNSIGNED BIGINT	64-bit unsigned integer	NUMERIC(20)
37	UNSIGNED INT	32-bit unsigned integer	NUMERIC(10)
38	UNSIGNED SMALLINT	16-bit unsigned integer	NUMERIC(5)
39	UNSIGNED TINYINT	8-bit unsigned integer, 0 to 255	TINYINT
40	VARBINARY(n)	Variable-length binary string, 1 ⇐ n ⇐ 32767	VARBINARY(n)
41	VARBIT(n)	Variable-length bit array, 1 ⇐ n ⇐ 32767	BINARY(n/8)
42	VARCHAR(n)	Variable-length string, 1 ⇐ n ⇐ 32767	VARCHAR(n)	VARCHAR(max)
43	XML	XML data	XML

Converting built-in SQL functions from Sybase SQL Anywhere to SQL Server:

	Sybase SQL Anywhere		SQL Server
1	ABS(num)	Get the absolute value	ABS(num)
2	ACOS(num)	Get the arc cosine	ACOS(num)
3	ARGN(position, exp, exp2, …)	Get selected argument from list	CASE expression
4	ASCII(str)	Get ASCII code of left-most char	ASCII(str)
5	ASIN(num)	Get the arc sine	ASIN(num)
6	ATAN(num)	Get the arc tangent	ATAN(num)
7	ATAN2(x, y)	Get the arc tangent of x and y	ATN2(x, y)
8	BASE64_DECODE(base64_str)	MIME base64 decoding	User-defined function
9	BASE64_ENCODE(str)	MIME base64 encoding	User-defined function
10	BIT_LENGTH(bit_str)	Get length of bit_str in bits	LEN(bit_str) * 8
11	BIT_SUBSTR(bit_str, start, len)	Get a substring of bit_str	SUBSTRING(bit_str, start, len)
12	BYTE_LENGTH(string)	Get length of string in bytes	DATALENGTH(string)
13	BYTE_SUBSTR(string, start, len)	Get a substring of string in bytes	SUBSTRING(string, start, len)
14	CEILING(num)	Get the smallest following integer	CEILING(num)
	CEIL(num)
15	CHAR(num)	Get character from ASCII code	CHAR(num)
16	CHAR_LENGTH(string)	Get length of string in characters	LEN(string)
17	CHARINDEX(substring, string)	Get position of substring	CHARINDEX(substring, string)
18	COALESCE(exp1, exp2, …)	Return first non-NULL expression	COALESCE(exp1, exp2, …)
19	COMPARE(string, string2)	Compare two character strings	CASE expression
20	CONVERT(datatype, exp[, style])	Convert to another datatype	CONVERT(datatype, exp[, style])
21	COS(num)	Get the cosine	COS(num)
22	COT(num)	Get the cotangent	COT(num)
23	CSCONVERT(string, charset)	Convert string between character sets
24	CURRENT DATE	Get the current date	CONVERT(DATE, GETDATE())
25	CURRENT TIME	Get the current time	CONVERT(TIME, GETDATE())
26	CURRENT TIMESTAMP	Get the current date and time	GETDATE()
	CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
27	CURRENT USER	Get the authenticated user name	SYSTEM_USER
	CURRENT_USER
28	DATALENGTH(exp)	Get length of exp in bytes	DATALENGTH(exp)
29	DATE(datetime)	Extract date from datetime	CONVERT(DATE, datetime)
30	DATEADD(units, num, datetime)	Add an interval to datetime	DATEADD(units, num, datetime)
31	DATEDIFF(units, start, end)	Get datetime difference in units	DATEDIFF(units, start, end)
32	DATEFORMAT(datetime, format)	Convert datetime to string	CONVERT(VARCHAR(n), datetime, style)
33	DATENAME(datepart, date)	Get the name of datepart as a string	DATENAME(datepart, date)
34	DATEPART(datepart, date)	Get datepart as an integer	DATEPART(datepart, date)
35	DATETIME(exp)	Convert exp to TIMESTAMP	CONVERT(DATETIME, exp)
36	DAY(datetime)	Extract day from datetime	DAY(datetime)
37	DAYNAME(datetime)	Get the name of the weekday	DATENAME(DW, datetime)
38	DAYS(date)	Get the number of days since Feb 29, 0000
	DAYS(date, num)	Add num days to date	DATEADD(DAY, num, date)
39	DB_ID(database_name)	Get the database ID number	DB_ID(database_name)
40	DB_NAME(database_id)	Get the name of a database	DB_NAME(database_id)
41	DEGREES(num)	Convert radians to degrees	DEGREES(num)
42	DOW(date)	Get the day of the week as integer	DATEPART(DW, date)
43	ERRORMSG()	Get the last error message	STR(@@ERROR)
44	EXP(n)	Raise e to the nth power	EXP(n)
45	EXPRTYPE(exp, integer)	Get the data type of exp	User-defined function
46	FIRST(exp)	Aggregate to return the first row only	TOP 1 exp
47	FLOOR(num)	Get the largest preceding integer	FLOOR(num)
48	GET_BIT(bit_array, position)	Get specified bit in a bit_array	User-defined function
49	GETDATE()	Get the current date and time	GETDATE()
50	GREATER(exp, exp2)	Get the greater of two expressions	CASE expression
51	HASH(string[, algorithm])	Get the specified value in hashed form	HASHBYTES(algorithm, string)
52	HEXTOINT(hexadecimal)	Convert hexadecimal to integer	CONVERT(INT, hexadecimal)
53	HOUR(datetime)	Extract hour from datetime	DATEPART(HH, datetime)
54	HTML_DECODE(string)	Decode special HTML characters	User-defined function
55	HTML_ENCODE(string)	Encode special HTML characters	(SELECT string FOR XML PATH(''))
56	HTTP_DECODE(string)	URL decoding	User-defined function
57	HTTP_ENCODE(string)	URL encoding	User-defined function
58	IDENTITY(exp)	Get the sequential number of a row	ROW_NUMBER() OVER(ORDER BY (SELECT 1))
59	IFNULL(exp, exp2[, exp3])	Return exp2 if exp is NULL, otherwise exp3	CASE expression
60	INSERTSTR(position, str, str2)	Insert str2 into str in specified position	SUBSTRING and concatenation
61	INTTOHEX(integer)	Convert integer to hexadecimal	CONVERT(VARBINARY(8), integer)
62	ISDATE(string)	Check for a valid datetime	ISDATE(string)
63	ISNULL(exp, exp2, …)	Return first non-NULL expression	ISNULL(exp, exp2)
			COALESCE(exp, exp2, …)
64	ISNUMERIC(string)	Check for a valid numeric	ISNUMERIC(string)
65	LCASE(string)	Lowercase string	LOWER(string)
66	LEFT(string, n)	Get n leftmost characters	LEFT(string, n)
67	LENGTH(string), LEN(string)	Get length of string in chars	LEN(string)
68	LESSER(exp, exp2)	Get the lesser of two expressions	CASE expression
69	LIST(string, del)	Aggregate string concatenation	STUFF and FOR XML PATH
70	LOCATE(str, substring, start)	Get position of substring	CHARINDEX(substring, str, start)
71	LOG(numeric)	Get natural logarithm	LOG(numeric)
72	LOG10(numeric)	Get base 10 logarithm	LOG10(numeric)
73	LOWER(string)	Lowercase string	LOWER(string)
74	LTRIM(string)	Remove leading spaces	LTRIM(string)
75	MINUTE(datetime)	Extract minute from datetime	DATEPART(MI, datetime)
76	MOD(dividend, divisor)	Get remainder	(dividend % divisor)
77	MONTH(date)	Extract month from date	MONTH(date)
78	MONTHNAME(date)	Get the name of the month	DATENAME(MONTH, date)
79	NCHAR(integer)	Convert Unicode code point to char	NCHAR(integer)
80	NEWID()	Generate GUIDs	NEWID()
81	NOW([*])	Get the current date and time	GETDATE()
82	NULLIF(exp1, exp2)	Return NULL if exp1 = exp2	NULLIF(exp1, exp2)
83	NUMBER([*])	Get the sequential number of a row	ROW_NUMBER() OVER(ORDER BY (SELECT 1))
84	PATINDEX(pattern, string)	Get starting position of pattern	PATINDEX(pattern, string)
85	PI([*])	Get number pi	PI()
86	POWER(value, n)	Raise value to the nth power	POWER(value, n)
87	QUARTER(date)	Get the quarter of the year	DATEPART(Q, date)
88	RADIANS(numeric)	Convert degrees to radians	RADIANS(numeric)
89	RAND([integer])	Get random float value in (0, 1)	RAND([integer])
90	REGEXP_SUBSTR(str, pattern)	Get a substring of str using regexp
91	REMAINDER(dividend, divisor)	Get remainder	(dividend % divisor)
92	REPEAT(string, n)	Repeat string n times	REPLICATE(string, n)
93	REPLACE(str, search, replace)	Replace search-string	REPLACE(str, search, replace)
94	REPLICATE(string, n)	Repeat string n times	REPLICATE(string, n)
95	REVERSE(string)	Get reverse string	REVERSE(string)
96	RIGHT(string, n)	Get n rightmost characters	RIGHT(string, n)
97	ROUND(num, integer)	Get rounded value	ROUND(num, integer)
98	RTRIM(string)	Remove trailing spaces	RTRIM(string)
99	SECOND(datetime)	Extract second from datetime	DATEPART(SS, datetime)
100	SIGN(exp)	Get sign of exp	SIGN(exp)
101	SIN(num)	Get sine	SIN(num)
102	SOUNDEX(string)	Get 4-character sound code	SOUNDEX(string)
103	SPACE(integer)	Get string of spaces	RPAD(' ', integer)
104	SQRT(num)	Get square root	SQRT(num)
105	STR(numeric)	Get string equivalent of a number	STR(numeric)
106	STRING(str, str2, …)	Concatenates strings	CONCAT(str, str2, …)
107	STUFF(exp, start, len, rep)	Replace characters in string	STUFF(exp, start, len, rep)
108	SUBSTRING(string, pos, len)	Get a substring of string	SUBSTRING(string, pos, len)
109	SUBSTR(string, pos, len)
110	SUSER_ID([user-name])	Get the server user’s ID	SUSER_ID([user-name])
111	SUSER_NAME([user-id])	Get the server user’s name	SUSER_NAME([user-id])
112	SWITCHOFFSET(tmz, offset)	Change time zone offset	SWITCHOFFSET(tmz, offset)
113	TAN(num)	Get tangent	TAN(num)
114	TEXTPTR(exp)	Get pointer that conform to LOB	TEXTPTR(exp)
115	TO_CHAR(exp)	Convert to string	CONVERT(VARCHAR, exp)
116	TO_NCHAR(exp)	Convert to NCHAR	CONVERT(NCHAR, exp)
117	TODATETIMEOFFSET(tms, tz)	Convert to DATETIMEOFFSET	TODATETIMEOFFSET(tms, tz)
118	TODAY([*])	Get the current date	CAST(GETDATE() AS DATE)
119	TRIM(string)	Remove leading and trailing spaces	RTRIM(LTRIM(string))
120	TRUNCNUM(numeric, integer)	Truncate numeric	User-defined function
121	TRUNCATE(numeric, integer)
122	TSEQUAL(value1, value2)	Compare two timestamp values	value1 = value2
123	UCASE(string)	Uppercase string	UPPER(string)
124	UNICODE(string)	Get Unicode code of the 1st character	UNICODE(string)
125	UNISTR(string)	Convert Unicode code points to chars	Expressions using NCHAR
126	UPPER(string)	Uppercase string	UPPER(string)
127	USER_ID([user_name])	Get user ID	USER_ID([user_name])
128	USER_NAME([user_id])	Get user name	USER_NAME([user_id])
129	XMLCONCAT(exp, exp2, …)	Concatenate XML expressions
130	XMLELEMENT(NAME exp)	Get an XQuery element node
131	XMLFOREST(exp, exp2, …)	Get a forest of XML expressions
132	XMLGEN(construnctor, exp, …)	Get XML based on constructor
133	YEAR(date)	Extract year from date	YEAR(date)

Converting SQL SELECT statement from Sybase SQL Anywhere to SQL Server:

Converting CREATE TABLE statement from Sybase SQL Anywhere to SQL Server:

	Sybase SQL Anywhere		SQL Server
1	DEFAULT GLOBAL AUTOINCREMENT (partition_size)	Autoincrement column	IDENTITY
2	Multiple AUTOINCREMENT columns allowed per table		Only one identity column per table is allowed
2	DEFAULT TIMESTAMP	Auto-updated timestamp	GETDATE() and trigger
3	col data_type COMPUTE (exp)	Computed column	col AS (exp)
4	INLINE num	Data type attribute	Removed
5	PREFIX num	Data type attribute	Removed

Foreign key actions:

Converting user-defined SQL functions from Sybase SQL Anywhere to SQL Server:

For more information, see Conversion of Procedural SQL Statements.

Converting stored procedures from Sybase SQL Anywhere to SQL Server:

For more information, see Conversion of Procedural SQL Statements.

Converting triggers from Sybase SQL Anywhere to SQL Server:

	Sybase SQL Anywhere - Watcom-SQL		SQL Server
1	CREATE TRIGGER name		CREATE TRIGGER name
2	when event(s) ON table		ON table when event(s)
3	BEFORE	When to fire trigger	Not supported, converted to INSTEAD OF
	AFTER		AFTER | FOR
	INSTEAD OF		INSTEAD OF
4	INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE	Trigger events (list)	INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE
5	REFERENCING OLD AS old NEW AS new		inserted and deleted system tables
6	FOR EACH ROW	Row-level trigger	Cursor for inserted and deleted
7	No AS keyword before the trigger body		AS keyword is required

For more information, see Conversion of Procedural SQL Statements.

Converting Transact-SQL and Watcom-SQL statements:

Cursors:

	Sybase SQL Anywhere		SQL Server
1	DECLARE cur CURSOR FOR select	Cursor declaration	DECLARE cur CURSOR FOR select
2	DECLARE cur INSENSITIVE CURSOR …	No new rows appear	DECLARE cur INSENSITIVE CURSOR …
3	DECLARE cur DYNAMIC SCROLL CURSOR …	Can see new rows	DECLARE cur CURSOR DYNAMIC SCROLL …
4	OPEN cur [WITH HOLD]	Open cursor	OPEN cur
5	FETCH cur INTO v1, …	Fetch cursor	FETCH [FROM] cur INTO v1, …
6	FETCH NEXT …	Fetch next row	FETCH NEXT FROM …
7	CLOSE cur	Close cursor	CLOSE cur
8	DEALLOCATE [CURSOR] cur	Deallocate cursor	DEALLOCATE cur

Cursor status: