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  4. MSSQL - How can I reference a column to update using a variable??

MSSQL - How can I reference a column to update using a variable??

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questionsql-serverdesignsecurityjson
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  • J JTRizos

    I thought about a PIVOT but the users have different security roles so I don't think it is possible to show what roles a user has or does not have so users can be compared. I've created PIVOTS in Excel and can't see how I can inidcate whether a user has or does not have a role and then compare them to other users. I will, however, look into this and see if it will work for this application. Thank you for your response. I appreciate any responces I can get.

    J Offline
    J Offline
    Jorgen Andersson
    wrote on last edited by
    #6

    Case When NULL Then 'N' Else 'Y' End

    "When did ignorance become a point of view" - Dilbert

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    • J Jorgen Andersson

      Case When NULL Then 'N' Else 'Y' End

      "When did ignorance become a point of view" - Dilbert

      J Offline
      J Offline
      JTRizos
      wrote on last edited by
      #7

      Not sure I understand. Also, can I use a PIVOT to create a table available through a GridView or would it be just for reporting? Thanx again!

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      • J JTRizos

        Not sure I understand. Also, can I use a PIVOT to create a table available through a GridView or would it be just for reporting? Thanx again!

        J Offline
        J Offline
        Jorgen Andersson
        wrote on last edited by
        #8

        This is a simpler way to make a crosstab:

        Select UserID
        ,Max(Case When RoleID = 'SecRole1' Then 'Y' Else 'N' End) as SecRole1
        ,Max(Case When RoleID = 'SecRole2' Then 'Y' Else 'N' End) as SecRole2
        ,Max(Case When RoleID = 'SecRole3' Then 'Y' Else 'N' End) as SecRole3
        ,Max(Case When RoleID = 'SecRole4' Then 'Y' Else 'N' End) as SecRole4
        ,...
        From UserRoles
        Group By UserID

        SQL is for datacollection, it doesn't care whether you use the data for reporting or grids...

        "When did ignorance become a point of view" - Dilbert

        J 1 Reply Last reply
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        • J Jorgen Andersson

          This is a simpler way to make a crosstab:

          Select UserID
          ,Max(Case When RoleID = 'SecRole1' Then 'Y' Else 'N' End) as SecRole1
          ,Max(Case When RoleID = 'SecRole2' Then 'Y' Else 'N' End) as SecRole2
          ,Max(Case When RoleID = 'SecRole3' Then 'Y' Else 'N' End) as SecRole3
          ,Max(Case When RoleID = 'SecRole4' Then 'Y' Else 'N' End) as SecRole4
          ,...
          From UserRoles
          Group By UserID

          SQL is for datacollection, it doesn't care whether you use the data for reporting or grids...

          "When did ignorance become a point of view" - Dilbert

          J Offline
          J Offline
          JTRizos
          wrote on last edited by
          #9

          Not being able to get the @colname variable to work, here's what I've now been working on. If it works, there will be 100+ case statements. Will what you recommend above work with an Update? My code seems to go through the table being updated once rather than through the CSEEmployeeRoles table which has the multiple records per user. I've done things like this in SQL reports before but never had this problem.

          update table1 set
          AuditView = case when table2.SecurityRole='Audit View' and AuditView='No' then 'Yes' else AuditView end,
          BasicArchive = case when table2.SecurityRole='Basic Archive' then 'Yes' else BasicArchive end,
          BasicModify = case when table2.SecurityRole='Basic Modify' then 'Yes' else BasicModify end,
          BasicView = case when table2.SecurityRole='Basic View' then 'Yes' else BasicView end,
          CentralScanOperations = case when table2.SecurityRole='Central Scan Operations' then 'Yes' else CentralScanOperations end,
          CreateorMaintainParticipant = case when table2.SecurityRole='Create or Maintain Participant' then 'Yes' else CreateorMaintainParticipant end,
          CreateRefundParticipant = case when table2.SecurityRole='Create Refund Participant' then 'Yes' else CreateRefundParticipant end,

          from EmergencyContact.dbo.CSEEmployeeRoles as table2 right join EmergencyContact.dbo.CSERolesRolledUp as table1
          on (table2.EmployeeID = table1.EmployeeID)

          Thanx again, Jörgen, for your input.

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          • J JTRizos

            I agree. However, the file comes from the state and we don't control it's format. Otherwise, it would be as you describe. We currently take the file into SQL table and allow access to supervisers and managers through an ASP.NET application using a GridView which provides some functions for the user. So, it's User1 SecRole1 User1 SecRole2 User1 SecRole10 User1 SecRole23 User2 SecROle1 User2 SecRole4 User2 SecRole20 User2 SecRole100 What they want is SecRole1 SecRole2 SecRole3 SecRole4 ... SecRole10 ... SecRole20 SecRole21 SecRole22 SecRole23 ... SecRol100 User1 Y Y N N Y N N N Y N User2 Y N N Y N Y N N N Y in GridView making it easier to compare who is in a SecRole. Thanx for your response. I appreciate any feedback provided.

            P Online
            P Online
            PIEBALDconsult
            wrote on last edited by
            #10

            There should be no reason to store the data in the same form you receive it.

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            • J JTRizos

              I have a table with one record per security role a user has. So, user SMITH can have multiple records, one for DMV another for CPT and another for ICD. In this example, SMITH has three security roles but can have up to 100. The desire is to have a second table with one record per user with columns for each security role indicating with Y or N whether the user has that role. The column names are the same as the security role name (eg. DMV, CPT, ICD,...) Smith would have 3 columns with a Y and all the rest with an N. So, is there a way to read in the first table, use the data in the security role field (DMV, CPT, ICD, etc) to then reference the column in the second table and update the respective column to a "Y" to indicate the user has that role? For example: if table2:ColumnName(DMV)=table1:Security Role("DMV") then update table2:Column(DMV)="Y". The key to both tables is the Employee ID. The input file we use to create table 1 is in the one record per Security Role per user design. We do not control that. The intent is to avoid long Case statements. I've Googled this multiple ways and read lots of possibilities but none seem to have a workable solution but most likely I just don't understand it. Below is one way I hoped would worked and a couple of forums indicated it would but I get 'Yes' in the @colname variable.

              Declare @colname varchar(200), @Eid varchar(50),@message varchar(80),@command varchar(200)
              Declare my_cursor CURSOR
              For Select replace(replace(replace(SecurityRole,' ',''),'/',''),'-','') as SecRole,EmployeeID
              from EmergencyContact.dbo.CSEEmployeeRoles
              where EmployeeID='38'
              order by EmployeeID, SecRole
              open my_cursor
              fetch next from my_cursor into @colname,@Eid
              while @@fetch_status = 0
              begin
              select @message = @colname+' '+@Eid
              print @message
              select @command= 'update EmergencyContact.dbo.CSERolesRolledUp set '+@colname+' = "Yes"
              where EmployeeID = '+@Eid
              exec (@command)
              fetch next from my_cursor into @colname,@Eid
              end
              close my_cursor
              deallocate my_cursor

              Any help will much appreciated. Seems so simple. :confused:

              M Offline
              M Offline
              Mycroft Holmes
              wrote on last edited by
              #11

              Both Piebald and Jorgen have essentially answered your question You MUST not store the data again (unless you are going to normalise the data as suggested by piebald) You should use a pivot query to present the data in the format the user requires. This article [^]may help (shameless plug) I would suggest that you do both, restructure the data when you receive it from the State, just b/c someone else has a crappy format (or you are actually receiving denormalised data designed for output) does not mean you can't change it in your loading process. Create a view (or at least a stored proc) based on the article that supplies the data in the format the users require. Oh and give Piebald and Jorgen an upvote for the valid answers.

              Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

              J J 2 Replies Last reply
              0
              • M Mycroft Holmes

                Both Piebald and Jorgen have essentially answered your question You MUST not store the data again (unless you are going to normalise the data as suggested by piebald) You should use a pivot query to present the data in the format the user requires. This article [^]may help (shameless plug) I would suggest that you do both, restructure the data when you receive it from the State, just b/c someone else has a crappy format (or you are actually receiving denormalised data designed for output) does not mean you can't change it in your loading process. Create a view (or at least a stored proc) based on the article that supplies the data in the format the users require. Oh and give Piebald and Jorgen an upvote for the valid answers.

                Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

                J Offline
                J Offline
                Jorgen Andersson
                wrote on last edited by
                #12

                Shameless plug. I think not. It totally relevant to the OP. If I hadn't forgotten that I already bookmarked it, I would have linked to it myself. :sigh: I guess that's just how bad your brain works when you're home with the flu.

                "When did ignorance become a point of view" - Dilbert

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • M Mycroft Holmes

                  Both Piebald and Jorgen have essentially answered your question You MUST not store the data again (unless you are going to normalise the data as suggested by piebald) You should use a pivot query to present the data in the format the user requires. This article [^]may help (shameless plug) I would suggest that you do both, restructure the data when you receive it from the State, just b/c someone else has a crappy format (or you are actually receiving denormalised data designed for output) does not mean you can't change it in your loading process. Create a view (or at least a stored proc) based on the article that supplies the data in the format the users require. Oh and give Piebald and Jorgen an upvote for the valid answers.

                  Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

                  J Offline
                  J Offline
                  JTRizos
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #13

                  You are right, both their responses were very helpful and I am now working on using a Pivot to do this. Not sure yet how the end result can be used by a GridView to display the data to the user. Just opened your article and seems to be really helpful. Thanx! However, my original question had to do with using a variable to reference a column for updating. From what I've read, this should work ... as I understand it. Sadly, it does not for me. So, final question ... is this doable and if it is, what am I doing wrong? See original question and code. :confused: Thanx again and I will give upvotes to both. :thumbsup:

                  modified on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 12:11 PM

                  M 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • J JTRizos

                    You are right, both their responses were very helpful and I am now working on using a Pivot to do this. Not sure yet how the end result can be used by a GridView to display the data to the user. Just opened your article and seems to be really helpful. Thanx! However, my original question had to do with using a variable to reference a column for updating. From what I've read, this should work ... as I understand it. Sadly, it does not for me. So, final question ... is this doable and if it is, what am I doing wrong? See original question and code. :confused: Thanx again and I will give upvotes to both. :thumbsup:

                    modified on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 12:11 PM

                    M Offline
                    M Offline
                    Mycroft Holmes
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #14

                    The only way to do it is the one you have used, dynamic sql.

                    Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

                    J 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • M Mycroft Holmes

                      The only way to do it is the one you have used, dynamic sql.

                      Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      JTRizos
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #15

                      But it does not work and I am stumped. Thanx for your help. I am working through your Pivot article too see if it applies to what I am trying to do. Good article!

                      M 1 Reply Last reply
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                      • J JTRizos

                        But it does not work and I am stumped. Thanx for your help. I am working through your Pivot article too see if it applies to what I am trying to do. Good article!

                        M Offline
                        M Offline
                        Mycroft Holmes
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #16

                        JTRizos wrote:

                        select @command= 'update EmergencyContact.dbo.CSERolesRolledUp set '+@colname+' = "Yes"where EmployeeID = '+@Eid

                        Print this variable and run it directly in SSMS, see if it updates, I think you problem is simply formatting the string! try changing "Yes" to 'Yes'

                        Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

                        J 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • M Mycroft Holmes

                          JTRizos wrote:

                          select @command= 'update EmergencyContact.dbo.CSERolesRolledUp set '+@colname+' = "Yes"where EmployeeID = '+@Eid

                          Print this variable and run it directly in SSMS, see if it updates, I think you problem is simply formatting the string! try changing "Yes" to 'Yes'

                          Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

                          J Offline
                          J Offline
                          JTRizos
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #17

                          Thanx for the suggestion. Printing the variable @command displays the correct Update command: update EmergencyContact.dbo.CSERolesRolledUp set AddRequesterInformation = "Yes" where EmployeeID = 38 But I get an "Invalid column name 'Yes'" error and no update is done. Feeling a bit more reassured that this will work but need to figure out why the error. At least you did not say this would not work. Thanx again and Merry Christmas!

                          M 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • J JTRizos

                            Thanx for the suggestion. Printing the variable @command displays the correct Update command: update EmergencyContact.dbo.CSERolesRolledUp set AddRequesterInformation = "Yes" where EmployeeID = 38 But I get an "Invalid column name 'Yes'" error and no update is done. Feeling a bit more reassured that this will work but need to figure out why the error. At least you did not say this would not work. Thanx again and Merry Christmas!

                            M Offline
                            M Offline
                            Mycroft Holmes
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #18

                            change the quotes around yes to single quotes '

                            Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

                            J 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • M Mycroft Holmes

                              change the quotes around yes to single quotes '

                              Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

                              J Offline
                              J Offline
                              JTRizos
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #19

                              I got it to work. Followed your advise from your previous reply and after a few tries, bingo, it worked. Here's the code in case it can help others. I am leaving the print statements I used for testing.

                              Declare @colname varchar(200), @Eid varchar(50),@message varchar(80),@command varchar(200)
                              Declare my_cursor CURSOR

                              For Select replace(replace(replace(SecurityRole,' ',''),'/',''),'-','') as SecRole,EmployeeID
                              from EmergencyContact.dbo.CSEEmployeeRoles
                              order by EmployeeID, SecRole

                              open my_cursor

                              fetch next from my_cursor into @colname,@Eid
                              while @@fetch_status = 0
                              begin
                              select @message = @colname+' '+@Eid
                              --print @message

                              select @command= 'update EmergencyContact.dbo.CSERolesRolledUp set '+@colname+' = ''Yes''
                              where EmployeeID = '+@Eid
                              exec (@command)
                              print @UpdDate
                              --print @colname
                              --print @command
                              fetch next from my_cursor into @colname,@Eid
                              --print @colname
                              end
                              close my_cursor
                              deallocate my_cursor

                              Thanx again for your help. Having never used Cursor or Dynamic SQL before, I just needed to know it can be done and I was on the right track. Happy Holidays! :-D

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