SQL | Variables exercise | Use variables to show details for a given episode number

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Software ==> SQL  (198 exercises)
Version ==> Any version of SQL Server
Topic ==> Variables  (8 exercises)
Level ==> Relatively easy
Subject ==> SQL training
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First (if you haven't already done so) run the script shown above to generate the Doctor Who training database.

Start a query, creating a variable to hold the id number of the Doctor Who episode whose details you want to show:

USE DoctorWho

-- the episode number of interest

DECLARE @EpisodeId int = 54

The aim of this exercise is to get to the point where you can run this command:

-- list out the details for this episode

SELECT

@EpisodeName as Title,

@EpisodeId as 'Episode id',

@NumberCompanions as 'Number of companions',

@NumberEnemies as 'Number of enemies'

Here's what this should show for episode id 54, for example:

Episode details

This episode featured 2 companions and 2 enemies.

First, create a variable called @EpisodeName and set this to hold the title of the episode with id number equal to the value of variable @EpisodeId.  The syntax that you'll need is:

DECLARE @VariableName VariableType = (

-- some select statement which returns a single value

SELECT ...

)

Now create two variables and set their values as follows:

Variable name Value
@NumberCompanions The number of companions for this episode (ie the count of the number of rows in table tblEpisodeCompanion where the episode id equals the one contained in the variable @EpisodeId).
@NumberEnemies The number of enemies for this episode (this time counting the number of rows for this episode in table tblEpisodeEnemy).

Complete and run your query to check that it gives this output if you change the episode id to 42:

For the voyage of the damned

This episode had 1 companion and 2 enemies.

Optionally, save your query as Counting by numbers, 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.
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niflheimis   Reply to niflheimisReply
17 Jun 22 at 11:23

I have no experience with SQL (yet:)) and I wrote a slightly different code. I didn't want to write multiple selects, and wanted to write one select with inner join. The code works well, but I was wondering which is more practical in general? This one or the one in the answer? 

DECLARE @EpisodeName varchar(100)
DECLARE @EpisodeId int = 42
DECLARE @NumberCompanions int
DECLARE @NumberEnemies int 

SELECT 
    @EpisodeName = Title
    ,@NumberCompanions = COUNT(c.EpisodeId)
    ,@NumberEnemies = COUNT(EnemyID)
    
FROM 
    tblEpisode as e 
        INNER JOIN tblEpisodeCompanion as c
        ON c.EpisodeId = e.EpisodeId
        INNER JOIN tblEpisodeEnemy as n
        ON e.EpisodeId = n.EpisodeId
WHERE
    @EpisodeID = e.EpisodeId
GROUP BY 
    EpisodeNumber
    ,e.Title
    ,e.EpisodeID
SELECT
    @EpisodeName AS Title 
    ,@EpisodeID AS 'Episode id'
    ,@NumberCompanions AS 'Number of companions' 
    ,@NumberEnemies AS 'Number of enemies' 

Andy B   Reply to Andy BReply
17 Jun 22 at 17:11

I find the comment that you have no experience of SQL unconvincing!  

It's often the case in programming that if you can break a complex instruction down into a series of simpler steps the resulting code is easier to debug, understand and maintain.  You can be too clever!  However, on this occasion I'd say your approach is probably the better one, although it's obviously not what the question asks you to do.

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