title: Convert between text and varchar(MAX) in SQL Server
body: <p>I have read only access to some SQL Sever 2008 R2 database and I need to copy data from some of its tables to the tables in my database; both databases have the same collation.</p>
  
  <p>The source database uses a lot of columns of <code>text</code> datatype. Can I safely make the target columns in my database of type <code>varchar(MAX)</code> and copy data without any risk (I am using INSERT statements to copy data)?</p>
  
  <p>In other words, can I safely copy string data from column of <code>text</code> type to the column of <code>varchar(MAX)</code>? Both columns use the same collation.</p>