Question : Decode fields with dates

hi All,

Sorry if this is two much of a newbie question........yes i am only started with oracle and sql.

If its in the wrong area then please let me know and I am sorry for the mixup

I have created the following script with the intent to retrieve informaton relating to date periods.

As you can see from the script below after decode;

Basically if JO.DATE_FROM does not have a value (DATE format or null) then check the JO.DATE_TO field and if its null as well  place in Vacant to the JOB_STATUS field otherwise check the JO.DATE_TO field, now its a little difficult..........

If the JO.DATE_FROM  does have a date ( eg; 16/05/2003 )and JO.DATE_TO field is null then add occupied to the JOB_STATUS field, however if the JO.DATE_TO is before sysdate (eg; last month) then add vacant to the JOB_STATUS field.

As you can see J.JOB_ID is the primary key........so one key may have two entries eg; the first one is from 01/01/2004 to 31/05/2004 and the second with the same key may be as follows 01/06/2004 to 31/07/2004 (both JOB_STATUS field's should show vacant for the 2 entries). Would it be possible to filter the first one out and keep the second entry or in this case the latest one?........The J.JOB_ID field is a number

The tables are stored on an 9i server.


Select J.JOB_ID, J.CAT_CD, J.DATE_FROM JOB_DATE_FROM, J.ESTABL_PLAN_ONLY_FLAG, J.FUNC_ORG_CHART_FLAG, J.HEAD_OF_ORG_UNIT_FLAG, J.MGMT_JOB_FLAG, J.ORG_CHART_FLAG, J.SENS_DATE_FROM, J.SENS_JOB_FLAG,
U.ACR_COMPL, JO.DATE_FROM OCCP_DATE_FROM, JO.DATE_TO OCCP_DATE_TO,
decode(JO.DATE_FROM, null, 'VACANT' , 'OCCUPIED') as JOB_STATUS,
P.LOGIN
From         SP2_JOBS J,
                SP2_JOB_OCCUPATION_STATUSES JO,
       SP2_ORG_UNIT_VERSIONS U,
       SP2_PERSONS P
Where J.DATE_TO is null
AND   J.JOB_ID = JO.JOB_ID (+)
AND   JO.PER_ID = P.PER_ID (+)
AND   J.OU_ID = U.OU_ID

AND   U.ACR_COMPL LIKE 'RTD%'
AND   (U.DATE_TO is null OR U.DATE_TO >= sysdate)
AND   (JO.DATE_FROM is null or JO.DATE_FROM <= sysdate)
AND   J.DATE_FROM is not null
Order by U.ACR_COMPL

Thanks very much in advance and I hope that someone may be able to help.

Mac

Answer : Decode fields with dates

Sorry it currently does put 'vacant' if there is any value in JO.Date_To field.

Consider creating the following function (it returns YES or NO)
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION xxxl_test_sysdate (p_date_to DATE)
   RETURN VARCHAR2
IS
   tmpvar   VARCHAR2(5);
/******************************************************************************
   NAME:       xxxl_test_sysdate
   PURPOSE:  Return YES if Sysdate is less than value in JO.DATE_TO field.

   REVISIONS:
   Ver        Date        Author           Description
   ---------  ----------  ---------------  ------------------------------------
   1.0        8/31/2004          1. Created this function.

   NOTES:
******************************************************************************/
BEGIN
   IF (p_date_to > SYSDATE)
   THEN
      tmpvar := 'YES';
   ELSE
      tmpvar := 'NO';
   END IF;

   RETURN tmpvar;
EXCEPTION
   WHEN NO_DATA_FOUND
   THEN
      NULL;
   WHEN OTHERS
   THEN
      -- Consider logging the error and then re-raise
      RAISE;
END xxxl_test_sysdate;
/


 THEN change the Decode to the following:

                   (DECODE(JO.DATE_FROM,
                         NULL, 'VACANT',
                         (DECODE(JO.DATE_TO,
                                 NULL, 'OCCUPIED',
                                 DECODE (xxxl_test_sysdate(JO.DATE_TO),
                                                         'YES', 'OCCUPIED',
                                         'Vacant'))))) JOB_STATUS

Hope that helps.