Varchar concatenate fields as Char or Varchar, not Text

[MargaretGillon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Last week I upgraded to postgresql 8.1.4
(YEAH!)  In my database I have a view which concatenates three varchar
fields to a new field. With postgresql 7.2.3 the field resulting from the
concatenation was a varchar, with postgresql 8.1.4 the new field is a text
field. This is affecting all kinds of forms in my application. Is there
a way I can get the output as char  or varchar? View code is below.



CREATE OR REPLACE VIEW vweventsummary
AS 
SELECT b.ltname, (c.refullname::text
|| d.enname::text) || f.evname::text AS evlinkname1, 
(g.refullname::text || h.enname::text)
|| i.evname::text AS evlinkname2, 
a.evid, a.evlinktype, a.eventity1, a.evevent1,
a.evresource1, a.eventity2, a.evevent2, a.evresource2
FROM event a, linktype b, resource c,
entity d, event f, resource g, entity h, event i
WHERE a.evlinktype = b.ltid AND a.evevent1
= f.evid AND 
a.evevent2 = i.evid AND a.evresource1
= c.reid 
AND a.evresource2 = g.reid AND a.eventity1
= d.enid AND a.eventity2 = h.enid;


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Margaret Gillon, IS Dept., Chromalloy Los Angeles, ext. 297

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