SQL Server cast to text datatype

Question

Can someone help me with SQL Server CAST to text datatype? I'm trying to get the long text to display using the CAST function, but it wont work if I am retrieving from more than 1 table. Perhaps I've created the statement incorrectly.

$from = 'RealEstate AS RE, Models AS M, Catalogue AS C';

$select = 'CAST(RE.Details AS TEXT) AS RE.Details, RE.Postcode, RE.Suburb, 
    M.ModelName, M.ModelID, RE.HouseID, RE.ContactName, RE.ContactPhone, RE.PlanName, 
    RE.Address, RE.Street, RE.Price, RE.StreetNo, RE.CatID, RE.Fixed';


$query = mssql_query("SELECT DISTINCT $select 
                      FROM RealEstate AS RE, Models AS M 
                      WHERE RE.HouseID=$hid 
                      AND RE.ModelID=M.ModelID");

Answer 1

I'm pretty sure aliases can't contain a period (offender: RE.Details). Try calling it Details instead (or enclose the alias in quotes (backticks for mysql) if you want to keep the period, but I'm guessing you don't).

Answer 2

My understanding is that you can not concatenate strings within the mssql_query block - I don't see the need for it really, based on what you provided. If you want to concatenate a dynamic SQL statement, do it as such before sending the statement to the mssql_query function:

$select = 'SELECT DISTINCT CAST(re.details AS TEXT) as details,
                                         re.postcode,
                                         re.suburb,
                                         m.modelname,
                                         m.modelid,
                                         re.houseid,
                                         re.contactname,
                                         re.contactphone,
                                         re.planname,
                                         re.address,
                                         re.street,
                                         re.price,
                                         re.streetno,
                                         re.catid,
                                         re.fixed
                               FROM REALESTATE re
                               JOIN MODELS m ON m.modelid = re.modelid
                              WHERE re.houseid = $hid"
$query = mssql_query($select);

Answer 3

$queryDetails = mssql_query("SELECT CAST(Details AS TEXT) AS Details FROM RealEstate WHERE HouseID=$hid");

I made another query from it. Its probably a redundant call. I'm more familiar with mySQL, after using msSQL i realize that it is quite troublesome to manipulate it. especially when the LIMIT function is not available for pagination.