Problem with querying sql server from vb

Question

Whenever I have

Dim catID as integer

And I use this in a query like this:

cmd.CommandText = \"select * from categories where p         


        

Answer 1

Try

cmd.CommandText = string.Format("select * from categories where parentid='{0}'", catID)

if parentid is a numeric field in your database then you'll need

cmd.CommandText = string.Format("select * from categories where parentid={0}", catID)

Answer 2

Just remove single quotes:

cmd.CommandText = "select * from categories where parentid=" + catID.ToString()

Answer 3

The error was telling you that it couldn't add "SELECT *..." with your catID value. The '+' operator tried to convert "SELECT *..." into a number so it could do math on it, but it couldn't, so it threw the error.

A lot of people try to use '+' for string concatenation. This is not the best practice because '+' will only concatenate when both sides are strings. But if it finds a number on one side (as in your case, with catID), then it will try to do math instead of concat.

Best practice to just make a habit to never use '+' to concat strings; always use '&' instead. That way you don't have to think about it.

I.e.:

1+1 = 2
1+A = error
1&1 = 11
1&A = 1A