Re[2]: [SQL] Please help: How to determine largest of two numbers in a query?

Hello David,

giovedì, 3 dicembre 98, you wrote:

DH> My $.03 worth, without really knowing what these values represent:

DH> There is no such "standard" query that can conditionally select between two
DH> columns.   Fortunately PostgreSQL will allow you to create function - of one
DH> does not already exist.

DH> The function would be something like:
DH>     greater_int(integer a, integer b)
DH> It takes two integers arguments and returns the greater integer.

DH> Then you do something like:

DH> CREATE VIEW  myview AS
DH>     SELECT yyymmdd, key, greater_int(value1, value2) FROM mytable;

DH> Or just do the SELECTs directly.

DH> This may not be the most efficient way to accomplish your goal.   I would also
DH> take a good look at may table design.   Value1 and value2 MAY be a repeating
DH> group and you may want to normalize a little more.  Or not.


DH> Greg Youngblood wrote:

>> I have a table with the following structure:
>>         yyyymmdd        int4
>>         key             char(16)
>>         value1          int4
>>         value2          int4
>>
>> with the following sample data:
>>         yyyymmdd        key     value1  value2
>>         19981201        hello   32      16
>>         19981201        bye     29      64
>>         19981202        hello   16      20
>>         19981202        bye     23      13
>>
>> What I need is to select the greatest between value1 and value2, so the
>> answer would be:
>>         yyyymmdd        key     value
>>         19981201        hello   32
>>         19981201        bye     64
>>         19981202        hello   20
>>         19981202        bye     23
>>
>> I can do this via ODBC using access by creating a column which is defined as
>> IF(value1>value2,value1,value2) but that doesn't work in psql.
>>
>> How can I make this work in psql?
>>
>> Thanks
>> Greg

PostgreSQL has already these built-in funcions (those used on
aggregate MIN/MAX):

int2     |int2larger         |int2 int2     |larger of two
int2     |int2smaller        |int2 int2     |smaller of two
int4     |int4larger         |int4 int4     |larger of two
int4     |int4smaller        |int4 int4     |smaller of two
int8     |int8larger         |int8 int8     |larger of two
int8     |int8smaller        |int8 int8     |smaller of two

exemple:

SELECT int4larger(3,10)
int4larger
----------
        10
(1 row)

-Jose'-