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 URL address in column

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davidredden1973
Starting Member

3 Posts

Posted - 2009-08-21 : 16:37:40
Not sure if this is the correct forum to ask this; but here goes:
I know SQL Server doesn't support URL/hyperlinks; but here's my question: I have a table with over 800,000 records and I inseted a column that I want to be able to autopopulate with a url address.
Is this possible?
for example I have a field within this table called ReportNumber
Soif this were excel I would insert a column with this formula autofilled down: =("http://www.someaddress.com/1234/" & ReportNumber)
Is there a way to do something similar in SQL Server?
I thought it would be under Computed Column Specifications.
But that didn't seem to work.

David Redden

TG
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

6065 Posts

Posted - 2009-08-21 : 20:26:35
I see three options:
1) since the url (minus the reportNumber) is a static string, you can opt to NOT store the value. When you SELECT the data simply return the expression:
[url] = 'http://www.someaddress.com/1234/' + convert(varchar, [ReportNumber])

2) You can create a "computed column" in the table.
alter table add [url] as 'http://www.someaddress.com/1234/' + convert(varchar, [ReportNumber])

3) You can update a column in a similar way you use excel:
update myTable set [url] = 'http://www.someaddress.com/1234/' + convert(varchar, [ReportNumber])

if [reportNumber] is already some type of character then you don't need the convert.

I vote for option 1)

Be One with the Optimizer
TG
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ScottWhigham
Starting Member

49 Posts

Posted - 2009-09-03 : 06:18:24
I would opt for option 1 as well although option 2 is more common. Here's what would make this choice for me:

"Am I going to have multiple columns (perhaps in other tables) that have this same functionality/desire?"

If the answer is yes then I would create a separate table to store the "base" urls and, in my function/view/proc, I would string the result together like TG said in option 1. If the answer is no then I would opt for option 2. I might opt for option 2 anyway - I don't know. Option 3, to me, isn't an option since ReportNumber sounds like an important column and changing it's value seems "wrong".

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