Conditional Select

• chris.surfleet

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  September 9, 2008 at 3:14 am

  #71906

  How can I do a conditional select in my queries?

  I'm trying to do this:

  SELECT Field1, Field2, IF Field3 > GetDate() THEN Field3 ELSE Field4, Field5 ..........

  Which is failing. How would I go about structuring this logic?

  Thanks a lot everyone!

• ChrisM@Work

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  September 9, 2008 at 4:04 am

  #868918

  Hi Chris

  IF is for conditional execution of statements within a batch. Use CASE for conditions within a statement. Check out CASE in BOL, there are two types, simple and searched. Looks like you will need the searched type:

  CASE WHEN Field3 > GetDate() THEN...

  as opposed to the simple type,

  CASE Field3 WHEN...

  Cheers

  ChrisM

  ^{“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

• chris.surfleet

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  September 9, 2008 at 4:09 am

  #868920

  Thats spot on mate - thanks a lot! 😀

• ChrisM@Work

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  September 9, 2008 at 4:21 am

  #868927

  You're welcome Chris, thanks for the feedback!

  ^{“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