Crazy SQL problem.

[slippast]

I'm at my wit's end with this so after searching this forum for 2 hours I figure I'll just ask.

I'm trying to run a simple query that will select the largest value from a certain field. I.e., an ID number, something like 1562.

So I use this basic query:

SELECT max(CustomerID) FROM tbl_custlogin

On my testing server this works fine. I get the value I'm after. However on my customer's server, where ID numbers range as high as 100000, I run this query and I get 94.

94 is the highest/shortest number that begins with 9. Meaning, if I change that ID to, say, 90 then 90 is my result.

So I guess what I'm asking is, in light of this mess, is there any other query I could try that might work? I'm baffled.

I'm greatful for any advice you folks can give!

[Sxooter]

Check what type of field customerID is.

If it's text, then things that start with 9 are "higher" than things that start with 1...

You need to have the field type be int if you want it sorted the right way.

[slippast]

holy crap...it's varchar.

I didn't even check that. Let me change it and see what that does. I'm sure that will do it.

You have my permission to kick me!

[Sxooter]

/kick! hehe... I've done much worse. If you're using a later version of MySQL that supports casting you can cast it to int:

select max(cast(id as int)) from table;