Using Min (like Excel and Access) in SQL

cruzer330:

> I am trying to run a query and one of the fields I want to use a min statement
> like a can do in Excel or Access that would take the minimum value of two fields.
> 
> min (number1, number2)

Do it like this:

   SELECT CASE WHEN Number1 > Number2 THEN Number2 ELSE Number1 END as TheValue FROM YourTable

It isn't as pretty, but it is a lot more powerful.

Hope That Helps,
Dex*

That is what I was thinking to use only I was trying to find a quick way.  The problem being that what I want to do when I find the minimum is assign a letter corresponding to the lowest of the two numbers.  This can be done in the Select Case When ... Else ... End but I would be performing the same operation in the THEN section and the ELSE section.

You could write your own SQL User Defined Function if you really want to.

Don't know how to do that.  Any suggestions for a quick tutorial?

>The problem being that what I want to do when I find the minimum is assign a letter corresponding to the lowest
> of the two numbers.  This can be done in the Select Case When ... Else ... End but I would be performing the
> same operation in the THEN section and the ELSE section.

Post the code you were thinking of using.  We can probably optimize it for you.  Even if you have it in a function that you call, you're still going to be calling it twice...  :)

Dex*