You can do this - the key is in the syntax:

UPDATE

SET

FROM

WHERE

So, I think this is what you are looking for:

update publishers

set state = case when publishers.country LIKE ('USA') then '11' else publishers.state end,

city = case when publishers.pub_id = '8888' then '22' end

from publishers inner join pub_info on (publishers.pub_id=pub_info.pub_id)

where publisher.country <> 'FLAPDROL' OR

publishers.pub_id = '9999'

Note that the "publishers" in the FROM clause is the SAME (as in the exact same, not a copy as it is in a self-join) as the one in the UPDATE clause.

And I know you gave this just as an example, but when you are setting the city, if the pub_id isn't 8888, then it will set the city to be NULL (there is no "else" clause there).

Hope this helps!

Chad