p.s. the above in SQL2K will return a maximum of 8000 chars (the limit for varchar)

The use of

SUBSTRING([textcolumn],1,PATINDEX('%*%',[textcolumn]))

will not produce an error if * is not in the data but would produce erronous data depending on your view of 'erroneous'

If an empty string is...

Notwithstanding the answer to the 'all zero' question

if emptry string is required then

LTRIM(SUBSTRING([column], PATINDEX('%[^0]%', [column]+' '), LEN([column])))

Do your homework first, then join the discussion.

You answer my questions first

But I know that you cannot

David, have you done your homework with one thirds?

What has that to do with the questions I asked?

Are...

Absolutely precise numbers must have p = infinity.

Sergiy, please define your interpretation of "precise number"

Please post a reference...

seems we were posting the same at the same time

Yeah, looks like it

my variables are actually strings NOT dates, that is why I was using substring.

Does not matter, the input dates will be implicitly converted, I explicitly converted the date on the...

If you cannot change the sorted option on the combo box then nothing you do at the sql end will make any difference.

As you stated you cannot change the order...

Wanna start a third Jeff

Or should that be 1/3 or .33

Damn, did it again, oops

Again, this is a business decision that a company needs to make, not us in IT.

Yes. IT are...