SQL Question - Returning a non-existant field

[Dudsmack]

I have an SQL query and I would like it to return a field that does not exist with a preset value; kinda like:

SELECT * FROM table1, bob="this"

In that this would return all the fields, plus a new one bob with a value of "this"

[A1ien51]

SELECT 'this' As bob, * FROM table1


Eric

[Dudsmack]

Is there a way to set the type of value it returns? Say I string with a lenght of 7?

[NogDog]

You could use rpad() (or lpad), perhaps?

SELECT RPAD('this', 7, ' ') AS bob, * FROM table1

[CardboardHammer]

In the general sense, it depends on the DBMS you're using. CAST and CONVERT work for SQL Server 2000, with CAST being preferred.