>>Well . . . it took a while but the light did come on. I change the definition of @SQL from varchar to nvarchar and it seems to work. Now let's talk about
>>

>>FOR XML PATH('')), 1,2,'')
>>
>>vs
>>
>>FOR XML PATH(''),type).value('.', 'varchar(30)'), 1,2,'')
>>

>>I think I have that syntax right in the second case. With the first line it runs OK. With the second line it errors with this.
>>

>>Msg 105, Level 15, State 1, Line 20
>>Unclosed quotation mark after the character string 'L)) pvt'.
>>Msg 102, Level 15, State 1, Line 20
>>Incorrect syntax near 'L)) pvt'.

>>
>>The letter 'L' mentioned in the error comes from a FundType of 'Local'. (No quotes) Can you suggest what may be going on here?
>>
>>In a previous click you asked what I meant by the 3rd WHERE. That referred to your suggestion:
>>

>>set @columns = stuff((
>>select  ', ' + quotename(FundType) 
>>FROM ( 
>>SELECT FundType from TIP_AmendmentProposedFunding P 
>>WHERE AmendementNumber =  @AmendmentNumber 
>>UNION
>>SELECT FundType FROM TIP_AmendmentApprovedFunding WHERE AmendementNumber =  @AmendmentNumber 
>>) S
>>WHERE AmendmentNumber = @AmendmentNumber
>>ORDER BY FundType 
>>FOR XML PATH('')), 1,2,'')  -- type and value were used in case the FundType contained some characters that may choke XML
>>

>>In this code block there are 3 WHERE clauses. I think the 3rd is redundant. Don't you agree?
>
>I agree about the where clause.
>
>What is the actual type of the FundType? What if you switch to varchar(max) instead of varchar(30) ?
>
>Also, what @Columns variable is equal to in the first and second case?

In the first case @Columns = '[ASTP], [DIFO], [HURF26], [Local], [NH], [RTA], [STATE], [STP]'

In the second case @Columns = '[ASTP], [DIFO], [HURF26], [L'

FundType is defined as varchar(10) in all of the tables. Changing to varchar(MAX) did the trick. THANKS for all your help on this. I really learned a lot.