Jeff
Many languages, when they compile the code, strip out comments as wasted space.
Agreed - but these are not comiled apps. Before you say it, I know that many HTML generators also can strip out comments and white space.
Actually, I think we agree on most points, but the arrogance of some to make this a black and white case, rather than being able to see the areas of gray which this question evokes is my issue.
The question does not ask what is in the text field, but what is returned based upon the select statement where the string is in the text field. The answer does not contain anything from the text field, only a translatin of the id into a name, and these names are of what?
How we got into comments is truely remarkable, but since it was broached then it should be explained correctly. You do not know how many beginners are now out there looking for comments which may or may not exist inside the definition.
In order for these questions to have value, we really need them to have clarity and no ambiguity.
We also agree here, though I do not feel that we should knock someone who obviously has some other language besides english as their primary language. This is an international group and thus multiple primary languages as well as dialects of those languages are used. The fact that the individual tried, and hopefully will continue is what is important.
Besides, with the attitude, I wouldn't want to work in his shop anyways;-)
Steve Jimmo
Sr DBA
“If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan