Creating expressions with the query builder

Hello,

I have a question about using the query builder, or just straight sql, to create expressions. My first example caused the query builder to generate a query configuration error:

Expression: EIM_REQUISITION_DETAILS.EST_UNIT_COST * EIM_REQUISITION_DETAILS.REQRD_QTY AS COST

Syntax error: Expecting "," or "FROM" after column alias or "*"

Initially I thought I was dead in the water but then I decided to just run it anyway and it worked! I got my cost. OK so fine the query tool doesn't recognize some sql expressions. Because I am trying to make a large flat file I thought I'd concatenate 2 fields to generate a recognizable requisition, which everyone knows is the year followed by a hyphen then the req number:

My old Access query had this: Req: Right([REQ_YR],2) & "-" & [REQ_NO]

and I tried to change it to this: substring (EIM_REQUISITIONS.REQ_YR from 2 for 2) || '-' || EIM_REQUISITIONS.REQ_NO AS REQ

So apparently my older sql book doesn't have the syntax right. Since I plan to do more of this could someone point me to a reliable book or site that could help me with sql syntax?

Thanks,
Dana

Move the thread from Visual Basic General forum. The question is on SQL Server Reporting Service issue. There are more exports in this forum to solve the problem in Query Builder, I believe you can get the satisfying answers in this forum.

Thanks again for your question.

|||The built-in Books On Line (BOL) help file has all the info you need on this topic