Oracle 10g - Return default when no record found

Experts,
A simple query that returns a number stored as a string.
For some, there will be no matching row found
As this value will later be used in division, I want it to return 1 by default

Neither NVL or COALESCE are returning the 1. I suspect this is the difference between a null column and No matching record.
Not sure how to correct this. 

select 
COALESCE(ALT_INVT_REP_CODE,'1'),
NVL(ALT_INVT_REP_CODE,1)
from M_Item_D3 
where Comp_Code = 'A1' and Cust_code = 'ARCINT' and ALT_INVT_REP_TP_CODE = 'UNIT'
and Item_code = 'XMC613'

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JDCamAsked:
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JDCamAuthor Commented:
I think I got it.... May not be the best, but it works

I am using a UNION ALL  
with Select '1' from Dual
then
Fetch First 1 row only
Alex [***Alex140181***]Software DeveloperCommented:
Please avoid what JDCam has suggested!! Don't get me wrong, but that's bad practice! Just use exception handling: like NO_DATA_FOUND! Maybe in conjunction with a custom function/package that returns the selected value or '1' if none is found.
JDCamAuthor Commented:
Please post your suggestion as a TSQL example
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slightwv (䄆 Netminder) Commented:
You asked this in an Oracle Topic Area so you will get Oracle solutions.

You used the DUAL table in your example which is also Oracle.

TSQL is SQL Server.

If you need SQL Server, please remove the Oracle Topic Area and add SQL Server.

Back to the question:  I'm the opposite of what Alex is suggesting.

I prefer to not write code when I don't have to.  If I can do it all with SQL, I will.  A simple union all with a select from DUAL is acceptable to me.

What I'm confused about is where you say you will be using the value later.  Later in straight SQL or in PL/SQL code?

You might be able to use NVL later in the code and remove the UNION work-around.

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PortletPaulEE Topic AdvisorCommented:
If no row is returned then coalesce or nvl have no row to supply the default value on. Hence you need a row. An alternative approach in SQL:
SELECT
    COALESCE(
       (SELECT
            ALT_INVT_REP_CODE
        FROM M_Item_D3
        WHERE Comp_Code = 'A1'
        AND Cust_code = 'ARCINT'
        AND ALT_INVT_REP_TP_CODE = 'UNIT'
        AND Item_code = 'XMC613'
        AND rownum = 1
        )
    , 1)
FROM dual

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this assumes you only ever want a single value returned.

Not sure why you want TSQL, but in TSQL just remove "FROM dual" from what you see above.
(TSQL is used by MS SQL Server and some versions of Sybase)
Alex [***Alex140181***]Software DeveloperCommented:
@PortletPaul: the "main" select will still raise NO_DATA_FOUND in case it does not return any row!

 @slightwv: Ok, it depends: if he uses this one as straight SQL, I'm at your side, but this is done within PL/SQL, IMHO, you should avoid that DUAL workaround. Where is that SQL being used/executed?!
slightwv (䄆 Netminder) Commented:
>>but this is done within PL/SQL, IMHO, you should avoid that DUAL workaround

Agreed!
PortletPaulEE Topic AdvisorCommented:
This works in TSQL (as long as the subquery is valid) but I still don't know why TSQL was asked for 
SELECT
    COALESCE(
       (SELECT TOP(1)
            ALT_INVT_REP_CODE
        FROM M_Item_D3
        WHERE Comp_Code = 'A1'
        AND Cust_code = 'ARCINT'
        AND ALT_INVT_REP_TP_CODE = 'UNIT'
        AND Item_code = 'XMC613'
        )
    , 1)

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This one DOES work in Oracle 11g 
create table M_Item_D3 (
    Comp_Code varchar2(10)
  , cost_code varchar2(10)
  , cust_code varchar2(10)
  , ALT_INVT_REP_TP_CODE varchar2(10)
  , ALT_INVT_REP_CODE int
  , item_code varchar2(10)
    )
;


SELECT
    COALESCE(
       (SELECT
            ALT_INVT_REP_CODE
        FROM M_Item_D3
        WHERE Comp_Code = 'A1'
        AND Cust_code = 'ARCINT'
        AND ALT_INVT_REP_TP_CODE = 'UNIT'
        AND Item_code = 'XMC613'
        and rownum = 1
        )
    , 1) as x
from dual
;

|  X |
|----|
|  1 |

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see this online demonstration

Even if the subquery has no data to return, this query returns 1 from dual.
(Note that the column ALT_INVT_REP_CODE has to be numeric.)
JDCamAuthor Commented:
Apologies….  I should have said Straight SQL, not TSQL.  My point was to achieve this within query syntax and without the need to write custom Function/package.  

Using the value later... This query will be nested into a larger query and the value returned to be used in division with another value.

Based on SlightWV comments, I will stick with the  Union All, Dual approach.

Thanks all, and sorry for the confusion
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