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sqlsqliteif-statement

IF() statement alternative in SQLite

I have the code for MySQL (perl):

UPDATE pages
SET rkey = rkey + 2,
    lkey = IF(lkey >= $key, lkey + 2, lkey)
WHERE rkey >= $key

I need to use this code with SQLite, but there is no support of IF() function. What I can do?

Solution

  • For generic SQL you can use CASE:

    CASE is used to provide if-then-else type of logic to SQL. Its syntax is:

    SELECT CASE ("column_name")
  WHEN "condition1" THEN "result1"
  WHEN "condition2" THEN "result2"
  ...
  [ELSE "resultN"]
  END
FROM "table_name"

    From http://www.sqlite.org/lang_expr.html section "The CASE expression"

    E.g. 

    UPDATE pages
SET rkey = rkey + 2,
    lkey = CASE  WHEN lkey >= $key THEN lkey + 2 ELSE lkey END
WHERE rkey >= $key

    Another link about SQLite & CASE (with example of update with subselect) http://sqlite.awardspace.info/syntax/sqlitepg09.htm

    CASE can be used in UPDATE in generic SQL, but I have no info about SQLite support of UPDATEs with CASE

    http://www.craigsmullins.com/ssu_0899.htm section "Using CASE Expressions When Modifying Data"