best way to select data

In my table A I have columns like
UniversityN, AstComposition, BstComposition, AstHall, BstHall, ContinueFee, DepositComposition all the value either is 'on' or 'Null'
if I want to select those data the have value in AstComposition, BstComposition, ContinueFee, DepositComposition or in AstHall, BstHall
and group by University Number , is a better way to do it ??

meantime I use

Code:

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select * from table A
where and AstComposition='on'

union all
select * from table A
and AstComposition !='on' and BstComposition='on'
union all
select * from table A
and AstComposition !='on' and BstComposition!='on' and ContinueFee ='on'
union all
select * from table A
and AstComposition !='on' and BstComposition!='on' and ContinueFee !='on' and DepositComposition='on'

---

is that a better way to do the select ???
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Vapor Genie

sql, What database are you working with? I am not sure I follow exactly what you want but here is something that might work:

Code:

---

SELECT *
FROM table a
WHERE COALESCE(Astcomposition, Bstcomposition, ContinueFee, DepositComposition) = 'on'

---

The COALESCE function returns the first value that is NOT NULL. If all values are NULL the result is NULL. You can think of it as a nested IF statement. IF first value is NOT NULL return it ELSEIF the second valuse is NOT NULL return it ELSEIF...

Since you indicated the values will be only NULL or ON, this should get you the same results as you multi-UNION query.

Thank you!
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Dodge Magnum History