Select Between Two Dates ELSE

Question

I can't really seem to get this straightened out.
SELECT distinct DATE, gross_total_return
FROM WPI_ICL
CASE Between '01-01-1980' AND '09-30-2008'
AND description = 'Broad Market Index United States Property (US Dollar)'
ELSE
description = 'S&P United States Property Residential (US Dollar)'
END
So, if records are between two dates, select a certain description, ELSE select a different description.  I've tried IF...Then, and I've tried Case too.  So far, nothing has worked out.
Can someone please give me a point in the right direction?
Knowledge is the only thing that I can give you, and still retain, and we are both better off for it.

Answer 1

Here's a working example:
DECLARE @wpi_icl TABLE (date DATE, gross_total_return FLOAT, description1 VARCHAR(100), description2 VARCHAR(100))
INSERT INTO @wpi_icl (date, gross_total_return, description1, description2)
VALUES
('2008-09-29', 100.0, 'Broad Market Index United States Property (US Dollar)', 'S&P United States Property Residential (US Dollar)'),
('2008-10-01', 200.0, 'Broad Market Index United States Property (US Dollar)', 'S&P United States Property Residential (US Dollar)')
SELECT date, gross_total_return,
CASE WHEN date BETWEEN '1900-01-01' AND '2008-09-30' THEN description1
ELSE description2
END AS description
FROM @wpi_icl
From the code you posted, it seems you're unsure of the syntax of CASEs.
There are two ways to use a case. The first is the example above. You enclose the conditions between CASE and END.
Each condition has its own WHEN with a clause that evaluates to true or false. This clause can be made up of as many conditions as you like. After the clause comes a THEN. This is essentially what you want to happen if the clause returns true. WHEN/THEN is
synonymous with IF/THEN in this instance.
Including an ELSE is optional, but, be aware if you do not, and none of your WHEN clauses evaluate to true, you will have a NULL returned.
CASE
WHEN theseDriods = theDriodsWereLookingFor THEN callVader
WHEN theseDriods <> theDriodsWereLookingFor THEN moveAlong
ELSE goHomeAndRethinkLife
END
The other (less common) option operates like a SWITCH in some other languages. Its still surrounded by CASE and END but this time, the when just contains a value to be compared to the value at the start of the case:
CASE 16
WHEN 15 THEN 'too low'
WHEN 16 THEN 'just right'
WHEN 17 THEN 'too high'
END
Hope this helps.