Generic GetValue function
I have a table called tblOptions with lots of columns in. There is only one row.
If at all possible, I am looking to write a generic scalar-valued function that returns the value of one column in the above mentioned table. The column name will be passed into the function as a parameter.
I would like to avoid having to have a CASE statement in the function as this will require maintenance.
I am looking to use this function for column defaults when creating tables as I'd rather that approach than triggers.
Is this possible?
If at all possible, I am looking to write a generic scalar-valued function that returns the value of one column in the above mentioned table. The column name will be passed into the function as a parameter.
I would like to avoid having to have a CASE statement in the function as this will require maintenance.
I am looking to use this function for column defaults when creating tables as I'd rather that approach than triggers.
Is this possible?
You could use the CHOOSE function instead.
Would be far more sensible to have a table with just 2 columns, first column holding the old column name as the Primary key and the second as the value. A very simple select statement then works AND you are future proof.
What you have is a very poor design.
What you have is a very poor design.
ASKER
Thank you both.
Neilsr, what you have said makes perfect sense. I'm not sure why I didn't do things that way. It was a long time ago. The next project I start I definitely will change to that method - thank you.
I'm afraid that the (albeit nasty) setup I have in place currently, is too aged and too frequently used to be changed. I have not used the ChOOSE function before. I have had a quick look, but I'm not seeing how I might use that to provide a solution. Could you throw an example together for me?
Neilsr, what you have said makes perfect sense. I'm not sure why I didn't do things that way. It was a long time ago. The next project I start I definitely will change to that method - thank you.
I'm afraid that the (albeit nasty) setup I have in place currently, is too aged and too frequently used to be changed. I have not used the ChOOSE function before. I have had a quick look, but I'm not seeing how I might use that to provide a solution. Could you throw an example together for me?
CHOOSE(calculation that results in a value from 1 to 4 for example, Column-Result1, Column-Result2, Column-Result3, Column-Result4)
ASKER
Thinking about this further, I'm not sure either of your suggestions could be used as column defaults.
For example, I might have another table called tblSalesLine containing a column called VAT_Rate. On row insert, if I want the value to be the DefaultVATRate value from the tblOptions table, the column default has to be either a function OR a column/expression made up from tblSalesLine members.
I don't think you can simply use SELECT DefaultVATRate FROM tblOptions as the default value. Neither could you use the CHOOSE function.
Unless I'm missing something?
For example, I might have another table called tblSalesLine containing a column called VAT_Rate. On row insert, if I want the value to be the DefaultVATRate value from the tblOptions table, the column default has to be either a function OR a column/expression made up from tblSalesLine members.
I don't think you can simply use SELECT DefaultVATRate FROM tblOptions as the default value. Neither could you use the CHOOSE function.
Unless I'm missing something?
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Exactly.
It'd be easy enough to write code to generate the function using all columns currently in the table. And you could create the function with SCHEMABINDING, forcing you to adjust it when the table changed.