MSSQL noob....LIMIT/TOP help

[nbarone]

This is my first time trying MSSql - I am familiar with mySql so please bear with me.

 

I am trying to dynamically show rows from X to Y, simliar to mySql LIMIT x,y.

 

Here is my code:

 

$query = "SELECT TOP ".$howmany." * FROM (SELECT TOP ".$start." * FROM Shelby.NANames WHERE LEFT(".$cusField.", 1) = '".$cusQuery."') ORDER BY LastName";

 

here is my "echo $query"

SELECT TOP 50 * FROM (SELECT TOP 250 * FROM Shelby.NANames WHERE LEFT(LastName, 1) = 'J') ORDER BY LastName

 

here is the result on die(mssql_get_last_message());

Incorrect syntax near the keyword 'ORDER'.

 

 

any help is appreciated, thank you!

[Ken2k7]

SELECT TOP 50 * FROM (SELECT TOP 250 * FROM Shelby.NANames WHERE LEFT(LastName, 1) = 'J' ORDER BY LastName)

?

[nbarone]

SELECT TOP 50 * FROM (SELECT TOP 250 * FROM Shelby.NANames WHERE LEFT(LastName, 1) = 'J' ORDER BY LastName)

?

 

 

I get:

Line 1: Incorrect syntax near ')'.

[nbarone]

I have gotten the code to work somewhat,

 

here's my code:

$query = "SELECT TOP ".$howmany." * FROM Shelby.NANames WHERE LastName NOT IN (SELECT TOP ".$start." LastName FROM Shelby.NANames WHERE LEFT(".$cusField.", 1) = '".$cusQuery."' ORDER BY 'LastName' ".$orderType.")"; 

 

query:

SELECT TOP 200 * FROM Shelby.NANames WHERE LastName NOT IN (SELECT TOP 200 LastName FROM Shelby.NANames WHERE LEFT(LastName, 1) = 'J' ORDER BY 'LastName' ASC)

 

 

this outputs names, however it shows $howmany (200) rows, starting from 0 no matter what $start (200) is.