Home > Ask the Oracle Database / Applications Experts > SQL Questions & Answers > UPDATE only rows which match another table in SQL
Ask The Oracle Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

UPDATE only rows which match another table in SQL

Rudy Limeback EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Rudy Limeback

Pose a Question
Other Oracle Categories
Meet all Oracle Experts
Become an Expert for this site


Oracle tips, scripts, and expert advice
Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 18 May 2007

I have a SQL query where I am trying to update a column in a table (tblA) from data in another table (tblB). This works fine when I try to update all the records in tblA, however, in this case I only have missing data which I have identified and populated in tblB. When I try to update only the missing data the non-matched data is also updated but to NULL.

UPDATE tblA A
SET A.Fld1 = ( SELECT B.Fld1
                 FROM tblB B
                WHERE A.Fld2 = B.Fld2 )

Is it possible to update only the missing data?



Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


RELATED CONTENT
SQL
How to check SQL query construction with the Mimer Validator
Using the SQL GROUP BY clause for counting combinations
How to use an SQL CASE expression
How to sort an SQL UNION query with special ORDER BY sequence
How to use string functions to make an SQL join
An SQL solution for a customer order homework problem
How to use SQL's POSITION function with substrings
Using SQL date functions to get totals for last three days
Using CASE in the SQL ORDER BY clause
What's the difference between an SQL inner join and equijoin?

Oracle and SQL
Using the SQL GROUP BY clause for counting combinations
How to use an SQL CASE expression
How to use the Oracle Database SQL Reference Manual
How to use SQL Developer to run SQL statements
How to work with the Oracle database home page
How to use SQL*Plus in Oracle
How to use SQL Developer to work with an Oracle database
How to view and edit table column definitions
How to sort an SQL UNION query with special ORDER BY sequence
How to use string functions to make an SQL join
Oracle and SQL Research

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS
Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary
autonomous transaction  (SearchOracle.com)
CFML  (SearchOracle.com)
dynamic SQL  (SearchOracle.com)
foreign key  (SearchOracle.com)
Java Database Connectivity  (SearchOracle.com)
Open Database Connectivity  (SearchOracle.com)
Oracle  (SearchOracle.com)
stored procedure  (SearchOracle.com)
The Open Group  (SearchOracle.com)

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary


Yes, it is possible.

The reason some of your rows are getting NULLs updated is due to the subquery. When the subquery fails to find a matching row in tblB, the subquery returns NULL. But since the UPDATE has no WHERE clause, it will update all rows, even those where the subquery returns NULL. Consequently, to prevent this, you might do this:

UPDATE tblA A
SET A.Fld1 = ( SELECT B.Fld1
                 FROM tblB B
                WHERE A.Fld2 = B.Fld2 )
WHERE EXISTS ( SELECT B.Fld1
                 FROM tblB B
                WHERE A.Fld2 = B.Fld2 ) 

One potential issue may arise when the subquery actually finds more than one matching row in tblB. If this happens, the UPDATE will terminate with an error ("subquery may return only one row").

Another approach is to use a joined update query. The exact SQL that is required depends on which database system you're using, but here's an example for SQL Server:

update tblA
   set Fld1 = B.Fld1
  from tblA A
inner
  join tblB B
    on A.Fld2 = B.Fld2

Note that only rows that have a match are updated.




Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice



Oracle White Papers: Fusion Middleware
HomeNewsTopicsTipsAsk the ExpertsMultimediaWhite PapersProductsBlogs
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2003 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts