Discuss "Return Default Date If Null" in the SQL Development forum.

jmurrayhead · #1 June 6th, 2008, 11:26 AM

I have a query like the following:

Code:

"SELECT " & _
    [last_name]," & _
    [first_name]," & _
    [hire_date]," & _
"FROM vw_people " & _
"WHERE id = @id"

Now, the people that designed the database have NULL values EVERYWHERE! It's a complete mess that I have to deal with. For some ungodly reason, someone's hire date is NULL. I know, makes no sense. Why would this person have a record if they don't work for us and don't have a hire date?

Anyway, is there a way via my above query to return a default date if "hire_date" is NULL? I'm using SQL Server 2000. This is a hard coded query unfortunately and I'm not sure if I can do some sort of SELECT CASE here.

mehere · #2 June 6th, 2008, 11:29 AM

try something like this

Code:

"SELECT " & _
    [last_name]," & _
    [first_name]," & _
    CASE WHEN [hire_date] IS NULL THEN 'default_date' ELSE [hire_date] END AS hire_date," & _
"FROM vw_people " & _
"WHERE id = @id"

sorry ... my bad ... didn't read that it's a hard coded query. what is it being used in?

jmurrayhead · #3 June 6th, 2008, 11:34 AM

This is a VB.Net application using SQL Server 2000.

mehere · #4 June 6th, 2008, 11:36 AM

then you would need to do something in the .NET app to account for NULL values?

jmurrayhead · #5 June 6th, 2008, 11:39 AM

That's the problem. For some reason certain .Net methods won't accept NULL dates. Which is why I'm trying to return a default value before it gets to the method.

mehere · #6 June 6th, 2008, 11:42 AM

then without changing the query ... i don't see how you can. unless you update the database and put a default value in there.

jmurrayhead · #7 June 6th, 2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mehere

then without changing the query ... i don't see how you can. unless you update the database and put a default value in there.

What do you mean 'without changing the query'? I want to change the query if I can get it to return the default date

And believe me, I'd much rather rid myself of NULL in this database, but that is not up to me, unfortunately.

mehere · #8 June 6th, 2008, 11:46 AM

ugh ... you said it was hardcoded ... wow ... need to get my head out of the clouds. use what i posted then.

jmurrayhead · #9 June 6th, 2008, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mehere

ugh ... you said it was hardcoded ... wow ... need to get my head out of the clouds. use what i posted then.

lol it is hard coded. I was asking if there was a way without TSQL to do this.

When you said 'change your query', I was confused as that was a vague statement.

So I'm assuming there is no way to do what I want and I'm going to have to put my right boot on when I go talk to the database morons.

Wolffy · #10 June 6th, 2008, 01:07 PM

Hmm, y'all seem to be posting in circles here JMH & mehere

. Obviously sumpin' gotta change sumplace, so which would you like to do:
(a) Change the data
(b) Change the query
(c) Handle the null in code
(d) Write a sproc
(e) Kill the DB designer
?

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Discuss "Return Default Date If Null" in the SQL Development forum.

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