Simple SQL if/else clause fails

Question

I am trying to do a simple if/else clause in sql (Running with mysql/phpmyadmin). But I get 1064 - You have an error in your SQL syntax

SET @age = 50;

IF @age >  60
THEN 
Select `table1`.`Name` FROM table1 WHERE `Age` = 'Old'
ELSE
Select `table1`.`Name` FROM tablel WHERE `Age` = 'NotSoOld'
END IF;

What is wrong?

Don't know. You could rewrite as `Select table1.Name FROM tablel WHERE Age = CASE WHEN @age > 60 THEN Old ELSE NotSoOld END` though — Martin Smith, Dec 31 '10 at 11:32
MySQL does have some very informative error messages. It's great, especially when you have 700 lines of SQL code, with `an error in its syntax` — Alex, Dec 31 '10 at 11:37

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 31 '10 at 11:34

2

tablel (L minus) instead of table1 (the number one) ?

answered Dec 31 '10 at 11:34

Stef

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+1 Good spot even though that wouldn't give a syntax error I think. – Martin Smith Dec 31 '10 at 11:35

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 09:58

1

I figured it out with using the case statement instead. Thank for the clue Martin! SQL: IF clause within WHERE clause

edited May 23 '17 at 09:58

Community

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answered Dec 31 '10 at 11:55

droidgren

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Simple SQL if/else clause fails

2 Answers2