[SOLVED] Need help with query

[jim.davidson]

I'm new to mySQL and have a very simple question.

 

I have a table of states I want to add two spaces to the front of the name.

 

I'm thinking this will do it but want to validate before I screw it up

 

Will this do it?

 

update states set state_name = "  "+state_name

 

Or is it going to try to do an artithmatic operation and wipe out the state_name?

 

[Wildbug]

I think you want CONCAT().

 

UPDATE states SET state_name=CONCAT("  ",state_name);

[jim.davidson]

Thank you

 

See, something told me that was wrong, you saved me from retyping all those names.

 

Thanks again

[fenway]

Why on earth do you want to corrupt your DB with formatting? And LPAD() would be the more correct solution... and you should be doing it on OUTPUT ONLY.

[Wildbug]

Why on earth do you want to corrupt your DB with formatting? And LPAD() would be the more correct solution... and you should be doing it on OUTPUT ONLY.

 

Agreed.  (Give them what they want, not what they ask for.)