inserting a name in a sql DB automaticly capitalize the first character

i am trying to capitalize the first character of a name when i insert the name in an sql DB 开发者_开发技巧from a vb.net application! I tried the initcap an the upper function, but didn't work! Is tehre a solution?

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The expression is this

UPPER(LEFT(@whatever, 1)) + SUBSTRING(@whatever, 2, 8000)

Note that the "8000" replaces a LEN(@whatever). An input string of 48 bytes will stay 48 bytes