Dictionarry order question

I have an installed sql server 2000 language English with server collation
set to SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS on a W2k server box. There are several
applications running in production using that machine and those settings.
Now the company is getting a new program that has as the requirement for its
sql server dictionary order to be set to Custom, Case insensitive, Accent
insensitive, for use with 1252 character set.
This server has lots of capacity left and there is no way to justify
spending dollars on another processor license for this app when the server
we already have should be able to do the job.
Is it possible to change the dictionary order on the current server and its
databases and test my current apps? If they still work as before I can then
leave it like that, if not I would have to be able to come back to current
settings.
What is the expert opinion on the difference in settings between the new app
and the current settings as shown above, do you think we should try keeping
our current settings for the new app? The app coming in is using asp pages
and the users are all French, the data in the files will be French with
accented characters and also some English in some fields.
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
RD
If it was me, I'd set up a new instance of SQL Server (configured with the
collation sequence of your choice) and let 'er rip. But with SQL Server
2000, it's possible to have different collation sequences on the instance,
database, table, or even column (IIRC). So there's no reason to change your
existing apps and databases. As far as I know, changing collations is a
real pain in the butt, and involves DTS'ing or BCP'ing your data to a new
home, or out to a temporary one, and in to the re-built one.
Clint
"RD" <bdufour@.sgiims.com> wrote in message
news:#OXncM9hFHA.4000@.TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> I have an installed sql server 2000 language English with server collation
> set to SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS on a W2k server box. There are several
> applications running in production using that machine and those settings.
> Now the company is getting a new program that has as the requirement for
its
> sql server dictionary order to be set to Custom, Case insensitive, Accent
> insensitive, for use with 1252 character set.
> This server has lots of capacity left and there is no way to justify
> spending dollars on another processor license for this app when the server
> we already have should be able to do the job.
> Is it possible to change the dictionary order on the current server and
its
> databases and test my current apps? If they still work as before I can
then
> leave it like that, if not I would have to be able to come back to current
> settings.
> What is the expert opinion on the difference in settings between the new
app
> and the current settings as shown above, do you think we should try
keeping
> our current settings for the new app? The app coming in is using asp pages
> and the users are all French, the data in the files will be French with
> accented characters and also some English in some fields.
> Any help would be greatly appreciated,
> RD
>