Question

Here is my code:

BEGIN

    SELECT SUM(
       CASE WHEN first_name > '' THEN 1 ELSE 0 END AS a 
       CASE WHEN last_name > '' THEN 1 ELSE 0 END AS b,             
       CASE WHEN country > '' THEN 1 ELSE 0 END AS c, 
       CASE WHEN state > '' THEN 1 ELSE 0 END AS d, 
       CASE WHEN city > '' THEN 1 ELSE 0 END AS e)
    AS total
    FROM employee_profile     
    WHERE id = user_id_in;

END

This generates the following error:

you have an error in your SQL syntax check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near xxx error for the first line.

Can anyone help with the correct syntax for this, please?

MySQL Server version: 5.5.8

Answer 1

SUM takes a single argument (/ column) which it sums across multiple rows, not multiple arguments (/ columns) for a single row, this is why it’s not working.

This should work:

SELECT (CASE WHEN first_name > '' THEN 1 ELSE 0 END +
        CASE WHEN last_name  > '' THEN 1 ELSE 0 END +
        CASE WHEN country    > '' THEN 1 ELSE 0 END +
        CASE WHEN state      > '' THEN 1 ELSE 0 END +
        CASE WHEN city       > '' THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS total
FROM employee_profile     
WHERE id = user_id_in;