--- In firebird-support@yahoogroups.com, "woodsmailbox" <cosmin.apreutesei@...> wrote:

>
> is there any shortcut to make 'x' a varchar instead of char in sql
> expressions? for instance,
>
> decode(1 = 1, 'a', 'ab')||'c'
>
> returns 'a c' instead of the more intuitive 'ac'... casting all
> constants to varchar makes expressions unreadable. if beating up a
> dead horse, then sorry for the noise.
>

Should I make a request on the tracker? That is, if the holy standard allows it, of course :)