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Message Posted: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 @ 16:09:25 GMT

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You simply seem to be a man/woman of categoric statements. This surely makes the discussion interesting!

As I was not sure what exactly the CASE-equivalent of COALESCE was I had to look it up. The V2R5.1 manual gives yet a different syntax from the version you have provided:

"COALESCE is a shorthand expression for the following full CASE expression:

     CASE
     WHEN scalar_expression_1 IS NOT NULL
     THEN scalar_expression_1
     ...
     WHEN scalar_expression_n IS NOT NULL
     THEN scalar_expression_n
     ELSE NULL
     END"

Now, that is a kind of difference I would call subtle (and you probably would call it a totally different CASE) but that is aside.

The example from the thread I have cited is described by the OP as a one-column CASE. I must admit I cannot apply your explanation to it, regardless of which syntax form is used.

I wonder how many users, even with technical background, would be prepared to distinguish these forms of CASE statements or simply able to remember which form exactly they were using. I guess some of them might call the differences subtle, some would call them different words. I have no problem with that.

Regards,

Victor

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