In SQL Server views I've been using CASE statements to look for nulls for years. I've just nullified this practice.
For the following Employees Table:
EmployeeIDLastNameFirstNameNickname39CarterJamesJimmy40ReaganRonald41BushGeorge42ClintonWilliamBill
Would be used to create the View:
EmployeeIDLastNameHandle39CarterJimmy40ReaganRonald41BushGeorge42ClintonBill
This is the CASE:SELECT EmployeeID , LastName , CASE Nickname WHEN Null THEN FirstName ELSE Nickname END As Handle FROM Employees
ISNULLified by:SELECT EmployeeID , LastName , ISNULL(Nickname, FirstName) AS Handle FROM Employees
For the following Employees Table:
EmployeeIDLastNameFirstNameNickname39CarterJamesJimmy40ReaganRonald41BushGeorge42ClintonWilliamBill
Would be used to create the View:
EmployeeIDLastNameHandle39CarterJimmy40ReaganRonald41BushGeorge42ClintonBill
This is the CASE:SELECT EmployeeID , LastName , CASE Nickname WHEN Null THEN FirstName ELSE Nickname END As Handle FROM Employees
ISNULLified by:SELECT EmployeeID , LastName , ISNULL(Nickname, FirstName) AS Handle FROM Employees