Question

I have been breaking my head over this hope it’s possible

declare @locationType varchar(50);
declare @SearchTerm NVARCHAR(100);

SELECT column1, column2
FROM whatever
WHERE
CASE @locationType
    WHEN 'location' THEN account_location LIKE @SearchTerm
    WHEN 'area' THEN Area LIKE @SearchTerm
    WHEN 'division' THEN xxx_location_division LIKE @SearchTerm
END

I copied the code form another related post here.

I get the error:

Incorrect syntax near the keyword ‘LIKE’.

Answer 1

declare @locationType varchar(50);
declare @SearchTerm NVARCHAR(100);

SELECT column1, column2
FROM whatever
WHERE
   (@locationType = 'location' AND account_location LIKE @SearchTerm)
OR
   (@locationType = 'area' AND Area LIKE @SearchTerm)
OR
   (@locationType = 'division' AND xxx_location_division LIKE @SearchTerm)

Make sure that @SearchTerm starts with/end with % -> or use '%' + @SearchTerm + '%'.

More info on LIKE operator.

— Update —-

SELECT column1, column2
FROM whatever
WHERE
(
  CASE @locationType
     WHEN 'location' THEN account_location
     WHEN 'area' THEN Area
     WHEN 'division' THEN xxx_location_division
  END
) LIKE @SearchTerm