Applying constraints to WHERE statement

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Applying constraints to WHERE statement

zephyris

SSC Rookie

Points: 32
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January 24, 2014 at 4:17 am

#151316

Hi,
I have to write code to produce data along the lines of SIZE, COLOUR and PATTERN. I'm coming unstuck because I have to apply specific constraints on PATTERN given a specific SIZE and COLOUR. For example, SIZE=10; COLOUR=R; PATTERNID must not be in (001,009): SIZE=10; COLOUR=G; PATTERNID must not be in (001,002,008) and so on.
I'm not new to programming, but am to SQL and I can't seem to get the syntax right. Any help would be much appreciated! 🙂

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John Mitchell-245523 SSC Guru Points: 148809 More actions · Answer 1

Here's one way, but I'm not sure that it's the best. Create a table called ForbiddenPatterns with columns Size, Colour, Pattern. Insert one row for each forbidden combination. Write a function that takes Colour, Size and Pattern as parameters and returns Forbidden if the combination supplied appears in ForbiddenPatterns. Add a check constraint to your original table that checks that the result of the function is not Forbidden.

John

Edit - corrected typo

zephyris SSC Rookie Points: 32 More actions · Answer 2

Hi John,

Yes - that sounds as though it would work 😀 I'm on another task now for the rest of the day, but I'll be sure to give an update when I can. Many thanks!!

ChrisM@Work SSC Guru Points: 186127 More actions · Answer 3

CROSS APPLY is an excellent tool for building complex WHERE clauses and would also help you to figure out if it's worthwhile building up an exclusion table as suggested. Once you've constructed your exclusions list in the CROSS APPLY block, you can drop it down into the WHERE clause.

SELECT x.Exclusion, m.*

FROM MyTable m

CROSS APPLY (

SELECT Exclusion = CASE

WHEN m.SIZE = 10 AND m.COLOUR = 'R' AND m.PATTERNID IN (001,009) THEN 1

WHEN m.SIZE = 10 AND m.COLOUR = 'G' AND m.PATTERNID IN (001,002,008) THEN 2

ELSE NULL END

) x

WHERE x.Exclusion IS NULL

^{“Write the query the simplest way. If through testing it becomes clear that the performance is inadequate, consider alternative query forms.” - Gail Shaw}

For fast, accurate and documented assistance in answering your questions, please read this article.
Understanding and using APPLY, (I) and (II) Paul White
Hidden RBAR: Triangular Joins / The "Numbers" or "Tally" Table: What it is and how it replaces a loop Jeff Moden

zephyris SSC Rookie Points: 32 More actions · Answer 4

Thanks Chris! That looks like it would be useful for other tasks that I have to perform as well 🙂

ChrisM@Work SSC Guru Points: 186127 More actions · Answer 5

Anytime.

Third row up in my sig block has links to a couple of outstanding articles on APPLY. Well worth a read.

^{“Write the query the simplest way. If through testing it becomes clear that the performance is inadequate, consider alternative query forms.” - Gail Shaw}

For fast, accurate and documented assistance in answering your questions, please read this article.
Understanding and using APPLY, (I) and (II) Paul White
Hidden RBAR: Triangular Joins / The "Numbers" or "Tally" Table: What it is and how it replaces a loop Jeff Moden

zephyris SSC Rookie Points: 32 More actions · Answer 6

Update: using adaptations of the code/ideas you both supplied, I have been able to correct a troublesome report at work. My bosses were very pleased! 😉 Thanks again!

John Mitchell-245523 SSC Guru Points: 148809 More actions · Answer 7

Happy to help, and I'm glad it turned out so well. Please will you share your solution, in case anyone else has a similar issue and wonders how you resolved it?

Thanks

John