Re: Null in string concatenation

A question pertaining to this: Why can I use NVL(...) and the FIRST # syntax in ISQL, but in my 4gl code, the only way I can use them is to prepare them? I think the FIRST # would be a great way to just get the first row that my query returns without having to OPEN, FETCH, and CLOSE a cursor, but it kinda defeats my purpose when I have to prepare the statement instead of just using it inline. Do the compiler and the engine have different "grammars"? I thought that what worked in one would work in the other, but apparently that's not the case. Thanks. Jose Miguel Giraldez wrote: > > try > SELECT a.last|| ',' || a.first > FROM a > WHERE a.first IS NOT NULL > UNION > SELECT a.last > FROM a > WHERE a.first IS NULL> > on IDS 7.3 > SELECT a.last|| ',' || NVL(a.first," ") > FROM a > > Rafal Furdzik escribi': > > > If a.first is null,this select will return nulll > > > > Select a.last || ', ' || a.first > > From a > > > > How to return a.last only in case if a.first is null. Please help.