Remove Null

Question

Remove Null

sharonsql2013

SSCertifiable

Points: 5908
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May 16, 2014 at 3:02 pm

#308176

I am trying to remove Null from my query but fail to do so.
There are around 20 different dept names in this table. But I only need to display two based on this case statement..
Select distinct
Case when P.Dept_Value = 'Accounting' Then 'AccountingPerson'
When P.Dept_Value = 'ITServices' Then 'ITPerson'
End Type
From PesonDept P
It returns three values
AccountingPerson
ITPerson
NULL
If I write where P.Dept_Value Is not Null or P.Dept_Value <> Null , it still shows up.
How should I fix it?

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Sean Lange SSC Guru Points: 286573 More actions · Answer 1

sharonsql2013 (5/16/2014)
I am trying to remove Null from my query but fail to do so.
There are around 20 different dept names in this table. But I only need to display two based on this case statement..
Select distinct
Case when P.Dept_Value = 'Accounting' Then 'AccountingPerson'
When P.Dept_Value = 'ITServices' Then 'ITPerson'
End Type
From PesonDept P
It returns three values
AccountingPerson
ITPerson
NULL
If I write where P.Dept_Value Is not Null or P.Dept_Value <> Null , it still shows up.
How should I fix it?

You are checking twice...well sort of. 😉

where P.Dept_Value Is not Null

You included a second condition which will not work for NULL and as such it will return those with NULL. You cannot use equality OR inequality when checking for NULL. NULL has no value and therefore is not equal to NOR equal to any known value.

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Luis Cazares SSC Guru Points: 183698 More actions · Answer 2

I would suggest to restrict your query to only find those 2 values.

Select distinct

Case when P.Dept_Value = 'Accounting' Then 'AccountingPerson'

When P.Dept_Value = 'ITServices' Then 'ITPerson'

End Type

From PesonDept P

WHERE P.Dept_Value IN( 'Accounting', 'ITServices')

You're getting nulls because you don't have an ELSE on your CASE.

Luis C.
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sharonsql2013 SSCertifiable Points: 5908 More actions · Answer 3

Thanks Sean and Luis.

Sean , I meant to say , I tried both options but did not work.

Well, Luis , the IN clause works great.