same sql different result (sybase)

I am new to both php and to this list. If this is the incorrect forum - please let me now -- and my apologies! Using PHP-4 b2. linked with apache on a sun.. $db_auto = sybase_connect("MYDB", "sa", "superbase" sybase_select_db("automation",$db_auto); // the following two lines produce different output // Entry_Date is a column name. $sql_a = "select * from Status where datepart(month,Entry_Date)=8 and User_ID=$sitgroup_row[user_id]"; $sql_b = "select * from Status where User_ID=$sitgroup_row[user_id] and datepart(month,Entry_Date)=8"; $qry = sybase_query($sql_a,$db_auto); while ($status_row = sybase_fetch_array($qry)) { ... } etc. $sql_a works correctly -- it returns records where the 'and' is true. $sql_b returns all records matching $sitgroup_row[user_id] but ignores the datepart(month,Entry_Date) condition. Attempting to use parentheses around the $sitgroup_row[user_id] clause seems to cause php to create / caste to a float, which then creates a sql error. My questions then: Were one to assign blame, would it fall on me, php or sybase? Is there a list of established php4 bugs? I suppose the answer to this question exists in a faq somewhere.. but I have not succesfully found it.. Thank you! *--Ryan. rbetts@casc.com