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SQL question - Count or not to Count - Efficiency


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srj1957

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Joined: 15 Dec 2005
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Location: RALEIGH NC, USA

PostPosted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 11:09 pm
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In some programs here I read that to test to see if a records already exists they code
Code:
select count(*)
into host-variable-counter
from table
where key = ...


Then they check host-variable-counter being > 0

My question is ~ Is it more efficient to code ?

Code:
select key-column
into host-variable-counter
from table
where key  = ...



Then check for SQLCODE = 0
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Suresh Ponnusamy

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PostPosted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 11:30 pm
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Hi

The First one is better since we are using Key column in the where clause.
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Arun Raj

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:46 am
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Suresh,

How does the WHERE clauses differ in this context? Both the SQLs use the key column in the where clause.
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Suresh Ponnusamy

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:57 am
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True.. Both the queries are using the same WHERE Clause. So WHERE Clause doesn't matter here.

Thanks for correcting me.
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dick scherrer

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:47 am
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Hello,

I'd suggest using the first format with count. . .

If there is more than one row that satisfies the where, a non-zero (which does not indicate "row not found") will be returned (-811 iirc) if a column is named rather than count.

The check for sqlcode = zero would not work correctly.
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Arun Raj

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:52 am
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Hi Dick,

If he meant the "key column" to be having only unique rows, I guess it'll not make any difference... icon_smile.gif
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dick scherrer

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 7:32 am
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Hi Arun,

Yup, if the key-column represents a single-column, unique key icon_smile.gif

The "count" format should work for all cases and would not potentially cause additonal work or problems later if the key were expanded to include a second column because the first column could no longer guarantee uniqueness (say some major business change or merger).
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Arun Raj

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 8:21 am
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Hi Dick,

In similar situations we have used something like this.
Code:
select DISTINCT 1
into :host-variable
from table
where key  = ...


and then check for SQLCODE = 0
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dick scherrer

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PostPosted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 8:32 am
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Hi Arun,

That would surely work as well icon_smile.gif

d
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srj1957

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PostPosted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:21 pm
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There was no didfference in the where clause

So the better of the two is ..

Code:
Select count(*)
into ws-counter
from table
where key-cloumn = host-var


then check the counter > 0


Thanx for your help...
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dbzTHEdinosauer

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PostPosted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:52 pm
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IF you are using DB2 Vsn7 or above:

you only care if the count is 0 or >0

then select literal or select keyfield
with a
FETCH FIRST ROW ONLY
clause,
which will stop the search.
A count will continue to the end of the table ,
or index if your WHERE clause makes it an index scan instead of a table scan.

if you only want 0, 1 or >1
select a field or literal and let the -811 stop the search when it finds the second.

If you need the COUNT, then do count,
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srj1957

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PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:07 pm
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Thanks for all the suggestions
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