Question

Can anyone help me with the trying to write SQL (MS SqlServer) – I must admit this is not by best skill.

What I want to do is exactly the same functionality as appears for the search boxes for the Yell website i.e.

• Search for company type

• AND/OR company name

• AND/OR enter a company name

• in a Location

if anyone can suggest the SQL code you would need to write in order to get the same functionality as Yell – that would be great.

Answer 1

Typically, one does something like this:

-- All these are NULL unless provided DECLARE @CompanyType AS varchar DECLARE @CompanyName AS varchar DECLARE @Town AS varchar  SELECT * FROM TABLE_NAME WHERE (@CompanyType IS NULL OR COMPANY_TYPE_COLUMN LIKE '%' + @CompanyType  + '%')     AND (@CompanyName IS NULL OR COMPANY_NAME_COLUMN LIKE '%' + @CompanyName + '%')     AND (@Town IS NULL OR TOWN_COLUMN LIKE '%' + @Town + '%') 

Or this (only match start of columns with the wildcards):

-- All these are NULL unless provided DECLARE @CompanyType AS varchar DECLARE @CompanyName AS varchar DECLARE @Town AS varchar  SELECT * FROM TABLE_NAME WHERE (@CompanyType IS NULL OR COMPANY_TYPE_COLUMN LIKE @CompanyType  + '%')     AND (@CompanyName IS NULL OR COMPANY_NAME_COLUMN LIKE @CompanyName + '%')     AND (@Town IS NULL OR TOWN_COLUMN LIKE @Town + '%')