SQL | Scalar functions exercise | Create a scalar function to count the total number of letters

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Software ==> SQL  (198 exercises)
Version ==> Any version of SQL Server
Topic ==> Scalar functions  (6 exercises)
Level ==> Relatively easy
Course ==> Advanced SQL
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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.

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