SQL | Table-valued functions exercise | Create a function to list episodes for a given series and author

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The answer to the exercise will be included and explained if you attend one of more of the courses listed below!

Software ==> SQL  (198 exercises)
Version ==> Any version of SQL Server
Topic ==> Table-valued functions  (6 exercises)
Level ==> Average difficulty
Courses ==> Fast-track SQL  /  Advanced SQL
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First (if you haven't already done so) run the script shown above to generate the Doctor Who training database.

Create a function to list out the episodes for any given series number and part of an author name.  This could begin: 

CREATE FUNCTION fnChosenEpisodes(

@SeriesNumber int,

@AuthorName varchar(100)

)

RETURNS TABLE

AS

For example, you could run this SQL query:

SELECT * FROM dbo.fnChosenEpisodes(1,'russell')

This would show the 9 series one episodes written by Russell T. Davies:

List of episodes

The first 2 or 3 of the 9 episodes in series 1 written by Russell T. Davies

Functions can't have optional parameters, but you can pass dummy values and detect them.  Amend your function so that it shows:

  • Episodes for any series if you pass the first argument as Null;
  • Episodes for any author if you pass the second argument as Null.

To help you know whether you've succeeded, here's what 4 possible combinations should show:

-- there is 1 episode written by Steven Moffat for series 2

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM dbo.fnChosenEpisodes(2,'moffat')

-- -- there are 14 episodes in series 2 (for any author)

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM dbo.fnChosenEpisodes(2,null)

-- there are 32 episodes written by Steven Moffat (for any series)

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM dbo.fnChosenEpisodes(null,'moffat')

-- there are 117 episodes (any series, any author)

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM dbo.fnChosenEpisodes(null,null)

Optionally, save your query as Series and author.sql, then close it down.

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