Recordet Problem

I'm creating a Visual Basic program linked to an SQL server DB. In one of my tables I have a field for phone number which is an nvarchar datatype that is stored in the following format (example: 617-782-6415).

I have a form where I want to view the contents of the following recordset:

SELECT d .ACCOUNT_CODE, d .DURATION, d .[DATE], d .[HOUR], d .NUMBER_DIALED, p.ACCOUNT_CODE AS Expr1, p.LAST_NAME, p.FIRST_NAME,
p.SUMMARY_GROUP, p.DIRECT_DIAL, p.TITLE, p.LOCATION, p.DIVISION, p.DEPARTMENT, p.DIRECTOR, p.OLD_CARD_NUM, p.REISSUE, p.CLASS,
p.PHONE
FROM DETAIL d INNER JOIN
PHONE_EMP_MAST p ON d .ACCOUNT_CODE = p.ACCOUNT_CODE
WHERE number_dialed = " & astring & "

The value for astring is pulled from a combobox that stores all the values for number_dialed. However when i run this program i get the error message

"syntax error converting the nvarchar value '401-781-7078' to a column of datatype int"

I dont need to convert it to a column of datatype int so I dont understand this error... can anyone help me?The only thing that can be forcing a convertion is

WHERE number_dialed = " & astring & "

What is this tryin to do?
Take one value frm teh combo box?
I assume as you have " as the string delimitter then you are trying to form the select in VB.
You would be better to create an SP and pass the parameter.
For your string here try

WHERE number_dialed = '" & astring & "'"

i.e. making astring into a string in the query.|||Yeah, I'm trying to form the select in VB because I'm more familiar with that way... I'd prefer to do it in VB if at all possible... Why is it converting it?|||WHERE number_dialed = " & astring & "

will give something like

WHERE number_dialed = 617-782-6415

it will evaluate 617-782-6415 giving a negative number then try to convert number_dialed to an integer for the compare.

you need
WHERE number_dialed = '617-782-6415'
to do a string compare
hence the quotes in my previous post.