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 adding in sql using a value from a new column

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s1lentb0b
Starting Member

3 Posts

Posted - 2012-11-12 : 07:59:55
Hi

First time poster.

I have a set of data that is a list of names and a list of values next to them. There is a 3rd column that is for an amended value. Basically I want to add the values together but if there is a value in the 3rd column I want to use that one instead of the real value.

hope I have explained this well.

sunitabeck
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

5155 Posts

Posted - 2012-11-12 : 08:16:11
One of these two:
SELECT
[name],
COALESCE(thirdColumn,SecondColumn) AS [Values]
FROM
YourTable;


SELECT
SUM(COALESCE(thirdColumn,SecondColumn)) AS SumOfValues
FROM
YourTable;
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s1lentb0b
Starting Member

3 Posts

Posted - 2012-11-12 : 09:11:12
will that ignore the first value and just use the amended value when there is one?
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sunitabeck
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

5155 Posts

Posted - 2012-11-12 : 10:40:47
Yes - if the third column is NULL. COALESCE function goes down the argument list, starting at the first one. If the first one is not null, it picks that value. If that is null, it picks the second value, and so on.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190349.aspx
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s1lentb0b
Starting Member

3 Posts

Posted - 2012-11-14 : 05:39:01
excellent thanks for the help.
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