Question

I need to write a query to get a list of users where their fullname is in an attribute named description. User names are kept in that attribute in any of the format:-

• LASTNAME Firstname
• LASTNAMEFirstname (without space)
• FirstnameLastname

In such a scenario if I need to search a given list of users(around 100) in that attribute, I have to write query like
select * from dm_user where UPPER("description") like '%FIRSTUSER_FIRSTNAME%' OR UPPER("description") like '%SECONDUSER_FIRSTNAME%' and so on..

Is their a way I can do things more simply.I hate writing *UPPER("description") like* 100 times.(Please suggest standard sql query).
I need to run this query on Documentum and MSSQL.

I just want to have something like

{

select * from dm_user 
where UPPER("description") 
like IN ('%FIRSTUSER_FIRSTNAME%','%SECONDUSER_FIRSTNAME%');

but its not available in documentum}

Answer 1

Can use use dynamic queries and let SQL Server to write those strings 100 times?

--DROP TABLE #User
-- This is an EXAMPLE: keep using your names source
CREATE TABLE #User(Id int, Name varchar(50))
INSERT INTO  #User VALUES (1, 'First')
INSERT INTO  #User VALUES (2, 'Second')
-- ... and so on

DECLARE @Query nvarchar(max)
SELECT  @Query = 'SELECT * FROM DM_USER WHERE 1=0' +
        (
            SELECT  '
 OR Description LIKE ' + QUOTENAME('%' + Name + '%', '''')
            FROM    #User
            FOR XML PATH (''), TYPE
        ).value('.', 'nvarchar(max)')

PRINT   '@Query = ' + ISNULL(@Query, 'NULL')
EXEC    sp_executesql @Query

Result:

@Query = SELECT * FROM DM_USER WHERE 1=0
 OR Description LIKE '%First%'
 OR Description LIKE '%Second%'