Grouping columns

[hartley_aaron@hotmail.com]

Hi,

I was trying to retrieve some data in such a way that it 2 columns will
be merged into one, with a column in between. I am trying to do
something like this:

SELECT LastName + ", " + FirstName AS Name
FROM EmployeeTBL
ORDER BY LastName

But SQL Server does not like this syntax (though it does work with
"LastName + FirstName").

I appreciate any help.

Thanks,
Aaron

[Thomas R. Hummel]

Re: Grouping columns

SQL Server uses single quotes for strings, not double quotes. Also...
you probably want to order by the first name if the last name is the
same, correct? Try:

SELECT LastName + ', ' + FirstName AS Name
FROM EmployeeTBL
ORDER BY LastName, FirstName

If it is possible for there to be NULL values or empty strings in
either of the columns then you will need to account for that as well.

HTH,
-Tom.

[SQL_developer]

Re: Grouping columns

SELECT LastName + ", " + FirstName AS Name
FROM EmployeeTBL
ORDER BY Name

This should work.

[boblotz2001@yahoo.com]

Re: Grouping columns

Use single qutes instead of double:

SELECT LastName + ', ' + FirstName AS Name
FROM EmployeeTBL
ORDER BY LastName

[SQL_developer]

Re: Grouping columns

Hmm, I didn't notice the double quotes ealier.

SELECT LastName + ', ' + FirstName AS Name
FROM EmployeeTBL
ORDER BY Name

You can always use the final column name in the ORDER BY condition.