Joomla Data/Variables

[carbonxps]

Hi all,

 

I have a what I thought was a call to the db: $db->sp("attrib_stock1");

 

However when I try to calculate on this field or assign it's value to a variable it fails however if I put it in a page it actually echoes out the value.

 

If I were to say $blahblah = $db->sp("attrib_stock1");

 

echos $blahblah it would echo 0 (zero) but if I replace it with $db->sp("attrib_stock1");  it echoes out the value.

 

What does $db->sp mean? can I assign this value to a variable?

 

Thanks for any advice.