COALESCE()

Isn't "COALESCE()" a SQL-92 function? Why it isn't in Informix (11.5). I suggested nested NVL functions as a work-around, but i would have preferred to just be able to have said, "It's in there." very happy to learn I was wrong. DG P.S. More whine with that cheese... I don't like continually having to be on defensive with our contractor. 1) Contractor: "What's the Informix equivalent to feature "X" in database "O" (or "SS")?" Me: "Sorry, Informix doesn't have it." 2) Contractor: "Why does dbexport/dbimport fail?" Me: "It's been a problem for a very long time, and IBM isn't going to fix it. There is a user-developed, non-IBM solution that is better, I suggest you use it."

There isn't a COALESCE function in Informix and nested NVL functions is the alternative. You could write your own COALESCE stored procedure so that you don't have to change the SQL. But be aware there may potentially be a performance hit; queries in an application that I previously worked on showed poorer performance using a COALESCE stored procedure than when using nested NVLs. Regards Stuart --- Ardenta Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 4181041. Registered office: Saxon House, Downside, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, TW16 6RT. -----Original Message----- From: informix-list-bounces@iiug.org [mailto:informix-list-bounces@iiug.org] On Behalf Of davidegrove@gmail.com Sent: 21 March 2012 19:26 To: informix-list@iiug.org Subject: COALESCE() Isn't "COALESCE()" a SQL-92 function? Why it isn't in Informix (11.5). I suggested nested NVL functions as a work-around, but i would have preferred to just be able to have said, "It's in there." very happy to learn I was wrong. DG P.S. More whine with that cheese... I don't like continually having to be on defensive with our contractor. 1) Contractor: "What's the Informix equivalent to feature "X" in database "O" (or "SS")?" Me: "Sorry, Informix doesn't have it." 2) Contractor: "Why does dbexport/dbimport fail?" Me: "It's been a problem for a very long time, and IBM isn't going to fix it. There is a user-developed, non-IBM solution that is better, I suggest you use it." _______________________________________________ Informix-list mailing list Informix-list@iiug.org http://www.iiug.org/mailman/listinfo/informix-list