Concatenating columns returns NULL results

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Concatenating columns returns NULL results

JStevenson1

SSC-Addicted

Points: 484
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November 10, 2013 at 12:15 pm

#284868

When I concatenate 2 columns, it returns NULL result. Column1 has some NULL value. How do I ensure it displays Column2 text even though column1 has NULL value.
Below is a snapshot.
Column1 Column2
_______________________
Test 1234
NULL 5968
______________________________
Current Result (Column1+Column2)
______________________________
Test1234
NULL
_______________________________
Desired Result (Column1+Column2)
______________________________
Test1234
5968
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mister.magoo SSC-Forever Points: 47174 More actions · Answer 1

You can use COALESCE or ISNULL for this.

COALESCE(Column1,'')+COALESCE(Column2,'')

OR

ISNULL(Column1,'') + ISNULL(Column2,'')

Both functions will replace a NULL value with an empty string and prevent your problem.

MM

select geometry::STGeomFromWKB(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

Bhuvnesh SSC Guru Points: 59351 More actions · Answer 2

Basic concept (with default settings)

select null + abc => null

anything added/concatenated to null is null.

and see this too http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms176056(v=sql.105).aspx

-------Bhuvnesh----------
I work only to learn Sql Server...though my company pays me for getting their stuff done;-)

Nadrek SSC-Insane Points: 20039 More actions · Answer 3

See the SQLServerCentral article Best Practice : coalesce vs. isnull? before you make a choice on which one to use!

JStevenson1 SSC-Addicted Points: 484 More actions · Answer 4

JStevenson1

SSC-Addicted

Points: 484

November 12, 2013 at 2:33 pm

#1665878

Thanks. It worked.

Concatenating columns returns NULL results

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