Computed Columns & Divide By Zero Errors

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Computed Columns & Divide By Zero Errors

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raotor

Posted Monday, January 14, 2013 6:00 AM

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Last Login: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 7:03 AM
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Hi,

I have some computed columns in a table that under some circumstances fail due to a divide by zero error. Now, I know I can just use regular columns and do the required calculations with appropriate logic to avoid any divide by zero errors and achieve the result I want. But, is there a way of maintaining the computed columns and avoid such errors?

Regards

Steve

Post #1406678

John.Sansom

Posted Monday, January 14, 2013 6:15 AM

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For clarity, can you share your example schema definition, along with test data indicating the desired output please?

One suggestion would be to handle the case for 0 within your computed column definition and assigning NULL in it's place.

create table testTable
(
	ValueOne int,
	ValueTwo int,
	Calcuation as ValueOne/case when ValueTwo = 0 then null else ValueTwo end
)

insert into testTable(ValueOne,ValueTwo) values(1,1)
insert into testTable(ValueOne,ValueTwo) values(1,0)

select * from testTable

John Sansom (@sqlBrit) | www.sqlbrit.com
The SQLBrit Community Forum - "There's so more to being a Data Professional than just technology."

Post #1406683

anthony.green

Posted Monday, January 14, 2013 6:22 AM

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Last Login: Friday, April 12, 2013 3:51 AM
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So the computed column is ColA / ColB, what do you want the output to be.

If ColA is 10 and ColB is 0, do you want the computation to be 10 or 0

For 0
ISNULL(ColA / NULLIF(ColB, 0), 0)

For 10
ColA / ISNULL(NULLIF(ColB,0), 1)

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Post #1406684