Changing a field value to its primary key (i.esupplier_name to supplier_id)

Question

Hi,
I have an insert function which takes data from two tables (table1, table2) and inserts it into another(table3). I've had to add an extra field to the destination table for the supplier_id. However, one source table has supplier_id but the other one uses supplier_name.
How can i programmically change the supplier_name to supplier_id during the insert process (obviously there is a supplier table with supplier_id and supplier_name in it, which somehow i need to link to).
Many thanks

Answer 1

Hi anthony
Can you understand the question..if yes, can you
explain me.It means something like...
SQL> select * from supplier1;
SUPPLIER_ID SUPP        VAL
          1 Bob          10
          2 Fred         54
          3 Jim          11
SQL> select * from supplier2;
SUPP        VAL
Bob          15
Fred         24
Jim          13
SQL> desc supplier3;
Name                                                                     Null?    Type
SUPPLIER_ID                                                                       NUMBER
SUPPLIER_NAME                                                                     VARCHAR2(10)
VAL1                                                                              NUMBER
VAL2                                                                              NUMBER
SQL> ed
Wrote file afiedt.buf
  1  insert into supplier3
  2  select s1.supplier_id, s1.supplier_name, s1.val, s2.val
  3  from supplier1 s1, supplier2 s2
  4* where s1.supplier_name = s2.supplier_name
SQL> /
3 rows created.
SQL> select * from supplier3;
SUPPLIER_ID SUPPLIER_N       VAL1       VAL2
          1 Bob                10         15
          2 Fred               54         24
          3 Jim                11         13
SQL>Although it depends if the OP wants to combine the rows as I've done here or union the rows as Anthony was showing.
Essentially though the point of the OP's problem was joining the two tables to get the supplier_id, which is obviously done via the name or some other common unique attribute.