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Software ==>	SQL (202 exercises)
Topic ==>	Scalar functions (9 exercises)
Level ==>	Relatively easy
Subject ==>	SQL training

Count the number of letters for an event using a scalar function

This exercise is provided to allow potential course delegates to choose the correct Wise Owl Microsoft training course, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any format without the prior written consent of Wise Owl.

Before you can do this exercise, you'll need to download and unzip this file . Once you've done this:

Go into SQL Server Management Studio;
Open the SQL file you've just unzipped (you can press CTRL + O to do this); then
Execute this script.

This will generate the database that you'll need to use in order to do this exercise (note that the database and script are only to be used for exercises published on this website, and may not be reused or distributed in any form without the prior written permission of Wise Owl).

Create a function called fnLetterCount which takes two parameters:

Parameter	What it should contain
@First	The name of an event
@Second	The details for an event

Your function should sum:

The length in letters of the event name (using the LEN function); and
The length in letters of the event details column (again using LEN).

Your function should then return this value as an integer. As a reminder, here's the syntax of a basic function:

CREATE FUNCTION NameOfFunction(

@Parameter1 datatype1,

...,

)

RETURNS ReturnDataType

AS

BEGIN

RETURN ...

END

Test that your function works by running a query like this:

-- this should return the number 7 (4 + 3)

SELECT dbo.fnLetterCount('Wise','Owl')

AS 'Number of letters'

Incorporate this function within a query to list out events in order of the total number of characters used, with the shortest first:

First few events

The first few events this query should return.

Optionally, save this as Pointless statistic.sql, then close it down.

You can unzip this file to see the answers to this exercise, although please remember this is for your personal use only.

You can find other training resources for the subject of this exercise here:

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