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How do I achieve range of values using Decode [message #374340] Wed, 06 June 2001 11:21 Go to next message
Bruce Weinstein
Messages: 4
Registered: May 2001
Junior Member
Hope someone can help.

Here is my dilemma.

Based on a persons age, I want to return a specific value.

For example, if age < 20 then I want to return string '<20'. If age >=20 and < 25, return '>=20 & <25'.
If age >=25 and < 30, return '>=25 & <30'.
If age >=30 and < 35, return '>=30 & <35'.
And so on...going up by increments of 5 until 65.

I have following DECODE statement

decode(TRUNC(MONTHS_BETWEEN(SYSDATE,BIRTHDATE)/12),<45,'<45')

However, ORACLE does not seem to like it as I keep getting error. My guess is it does not like the <45.

Can someone help me out as I have been searching through the messages in this discussion list with no success.

Thanks in advance.
Re: How do I achieve range of values using Decode [message #374342 is a reply to message #374340] Wed, 06 June 2001 14:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jon
Messages: 483
Registered: May 2001
Senior Member
I don't think you need a decode. Something like this will do:
select '<'||to_char(TRUNC((TRUNC((MONTHS_BETWEEN(SYSDATE,BIRTHDATE)/60)-.0001))*5)+5)
from ...
Re: How do I achieve range of values using Decode - PS [message #374343 is a reply to message #374342] Wed, 06 June 2001 14:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JonPease
Messages: 2
Registered: June 2001
Junior Member
I think the code I gave you will give you <=. Try eliminating the -.0001 and see if it give you the correct results.
Re: How do I achieve range of values using Decode [message #374349 is a reply to message #374340] Thu, 07 June 2001 04:07 Go to previous message
Sarada
Messages: 27
Registered: April 2001
Junior Member
Try creating a function and call it from your SELECT statement. Eg:

create function get_age_literal(birthdate date) return varchar2
t_age NUMBER(10);
begin
select trunc(months_between(sysdate, birthdate))/12 INTO t_age from dual;
if t_age < 20 then
return '<20';
elsif t_age between 20 and 25 then
return '>=20 & <25'
.....

end if;
end;

Or you can try a SELECT with UNION clause but it will be cumbersome to do that. Eg:

SELECT emp.*, '<20' "age_literal" from emp
where months_between(sysdate, birthdate)/12 < 20
UNION
SELECT emp.*, '>=20 & <25' "age_literal" from emp
where months_between(sysdate, birthdate)/12 BETWEEN 20 AND 25
UNION
......
so on until all the conditions are ful-filled.

HTH

Orashark
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