Really easy stored proc question

I suppose it's not possible to return a varchar value from a stored proc? I keep getting a conversion error.
How can I return a varchar value, then?
Thanks.. sorry for the stupid question. I did some searching on Google and didn't find much.In the procedure - RAISERROR('your_text', <level int>, <state int>), in your front-end code - interrogate errors collection.|||Originally posted by MDesigner
I suppose it's not possible to return a varchar value from a stored proc? I keep getting a conversion error.

How can I return a varchar value, then?

Thanks.. sorry for the stupid question. I did some searching on Google and didn't find much.

Sounds like you want to use an output parameter in your stored proc

Search SQL Server help on 'output parameters'|||That's right...return can only return an int...use return only to determine the success or failure of a sproc...

use output variable to return values...like:

CREATE PROC mySproc99 @.inputParam varchar(10), @.outputParam varchar(255) OUTPUT
AS|||Originally posted by rdjabarov
In the procedure - RAISERROR('your_text', <level int>, <state int>), in your front-end code - interrogate errors collection.

Hey .. what are you talking about here !!!:confused: :confused: :confused:

READTEXT and return values

First question :

How can I set the return value of READTEXT to a variable of type nvarchar.

Second question :

I have a table t1 with a ntext column n1.

The ntext column has has words separated by empty space.
Each word can be assumed to be of size <= 255 characters.

How can I extract all the keywords in the ntext column to a table t2 with a column word nvarchar(255).

Assume that the text in column n1 is big enough so that it cannot be cast into a nvarchar or any other simpler type.

Any help on this is greatly appreciated.
Please do provide a sample code.

Alok.Have you referred to books online for READTEXT topoic.