Method and system for rewriting a database query

• Main Authors: GHAZAL AHMAD, REICHART DONALD, SATHYANARAYAN PRADEEP
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.02.2010
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; PHYSICS

The invention relates to a method and database system for rewriting a SQL query having at least one null sensitive expression (NSE) in a select list of the query, the query comprising at least one outer join command to be performed on at least two tables and involving a view or a Derived Table (DT). The method comprising the steps of: identifying at least one unmatching row belonging to the view or DT using non-nullable fields that belong to the outermost table in the view or DT; converting the NSE(s) from the at least one identified rows into a SQL case construct; and performing the at least one outer join. The database system comprising means for rewriting a SQL query having at least one null sensitive expression (NSE) in a select list of the query, the query comprising at least one outer join command to be performed on at least two tables and involving a view or a Derived Table (DT). The system comprises a device configured to identify at least one unmatching row belonging to the view or DT using non-nullable fields that belong to the outermost table in the view or DT; a device configured to convert the NSE(s) from the at least one identified rows into a SQL case construct; and a device configured to perform the at least one outer join.