CHANGE THE LEVEL NUMBER IN AN SQL QUERY

Question

Hi
I've this query:
SELECT LEVEL,LPAD(' ',(LEVEL+1)*5,' ')||ENAME ENAME
FROM EMP
START WITH MGR IS NULL
CONNECT BY PRIOR EMPNO = MGR
the result is:
LEVEL ENAME
1 KING
2 JONES
3 SCOTT
2 FORD
3 SMITH
my question is that if i except FORD how can i change the level number to SMITH from 3 to 2.
for example:
SELECT LEVEL,LPAD(' ',(LEVEL+1)*5,' ')||ENAME ENAME
FROM EMP
WHERE ENAME <> 'FORD'
START WITH MGR IS NULL
CONNECT BY PRIOR EMPNO= MGR
the result is:
LEVEL ENAME
1 KING
2 JONES
3 SCOTT
2 SMITH
regards
nadia

Answer 1

Hi,
If you notice the level of SMITH is 4 in the initial query but when you exclude FORD, then SMITH is taking up his level i.e., 3.
SQL>     SELECT LEVEL lvl, ENAME
  2      FROM EMP
  3      START WITH MGR IS NULL
  4      CONNECT BY PRIOR EMPNO = MGR;
       LVL ENAME
         1 KING
         2 JONES
         3 FORD
4 SMITH
         2 BLAKE
         3 ALLEN
         3 WARD
         3 MARTIN
         3 TURNER
         3 JAMES
         2 CLARK
         3 MILLER
12 rows selected.
SQL> Select decode(ename, 'SMITH', lag_level, lvl) dec_lvl,
  2      ename from (
  3      SELECT rownum rn, LEVEL lvl, lag(level) over (order by level) lag_level, ENAME
  4      FROM EMP
  5      START WITH MGR IS NULL
  6      CONNECT BY PRIOR EMPNO = MGR )
  7      Where ename <> 'FORD'
  8      order by rn;
   DEC_LVL ENAME
         1 KING
         2 JONES
         3 SMITH
         2 BLAKE
         3 ALLEN
         3 WARD
         3 MARTIN
         3 TURNER
         3 JAMES
         2 CLARK
         3 MILLER
11 rows selected.
SQL>Regards