Select in SQL based on parameter

Question

I have a user parameter coming in that can be one of three values: REAL, PERS, REPP. If it is REAL, I need to select TOT07, if it is PERS, I need to select TOT21, if it is REPP, I need to select both fields. I also need to combine the values for these fields on the report so that only one value shows.
I have been trying to use the formula & placeholder columns, but I haven't been successful in retrieving the data. I tried using a formula column to get the following:
if parameter = REAL: :TOT07_HOLD = 'TOT07', :TOT21_HOLD = 0
if parameter = PERS: :TOT07_HOLD = 0, :TOT21_HOLD = 'TOT21'
if parameter = REPP: :TOT07_HOLD = 'TOT07', :TOT21_HOLD = 'TOT21'
Then I need to use these placeholder columns in my SQL as follows:
SELECT :TOT07_HOLD AS TOT07_VAL, :TOT21_HOLD AS TOT21_VAL
When I do this, I only get the value that I set in the formulas (field names), not the value from the database. Since these are the field names and not values, I can't sum up the column as it is defined as character, not numeric.
Can anyone help me?
Kris

Answer 1

Hello Kris,
Can you post the actual query so we can take a better look at it? Because from the look of the query you posted which is :
SELECT :TOT07_HOLD AS TOT07_VAL,
              :TOT21_HOLD AS TOT21_VALYou would definitely just get the assigned values. It's like the following a query in SQL*plus:
define tot07_hold = '1'
define tot21_hold = '2'
select &tot07_hold as tot07,
         &tot21_hold as tot21
from dual
     TOT07      TOT21
         1          2even if you have an actual table it will repeat the same value as to how many rows where selected from that table:
select &tot07_hold as tot07,
         &tot21_hold as tot21
from District_cd
     TOT07      TOT21
         1          2
         1          2
         1          2
         1          2
         1          2
         1          2
         1          2
         1          2
         1          2
         1          2
         1          2-Marilyn