TRY_CONVERT conversion function is supported in SQL Server 2012, but it is not supported in Windows Azure SQL Database, so we have to use TRY_CAST in Windows Azure SQL Database. TRY_CAST returns the value as the specified data_type; if an error occurs, null is returned.
However if you request a conversion that is explicitly not permitted, then TRY_CAST fails with an error. In Windows Azure SQL Database so you have to use TRY_CAST in place of TRY_CONVERT. TRY_CAST is same as TRY_CONVERT, as CAST is analogous to CONVERT, but CONVERT's expression and style arguments are different.
TRY_CAST will be used as following example shows, SELECT CASE WHEN TRY_CAST('xyz' AS float) IS NULL THEN 'Cast has failed' ELSE 'Cast has succeeded' END AS Result; GO TRY_CONVERT performs same functionality in SQL Server 2012. Currently Windows Azure SQL Database does not support TRY_CONVERT.
TRY_CAST example can be downloaded from following link http://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/TRYCAST-example-for-3b59e3ae
Waqas M edited Revision 2. Comment: revision
Waqas M edited Revision 1. Comment: revise
Waqas M edited Original. Comment: correction