How to bypass NULL in a Lookup Table using JOIN? - sql

Question

In SQL (SSMS), I am trying to do a lookup using a ranging table (similar to Point_Lookup below) and what I need is to bypass the NULL scenario.
Firstly, please use below SQL codes to replicate the scenario in question:
-- Code for People Data --
Create table #People ([Name] varchar(50) null,Age int null)
Insert into #People VALUES
('George' , 30),
('Clooney' , 18),
('Sandra' , 44),
('Bullock' , 15),
('Adam' , 100)
-- Code for Point_Lookup Data--
Create table #Point_Lookup ([Lower_Limit] int null, [Upper_Limit] int null, [Point] int null)
Insert into #Point_Lookup VALUES
(0, 10, 1),
(10, 20, 2),
(20, 30, 3),
(30, 40, 4),
(40, 50, 5),
(50, NULL, 6)
I have tried below code to successfully join both tables and get the desired points EXCEPT when [Age] >= 50 (Since the Upper_Limit is showing NULL, the point from the lookup table is also showing NULL - desired result should be 6).
Select ppl.*, point.[Point]
from #People as ppl
left join #Point_Lookup as point
on ppl.[Age] >= point.[Lower_Limit] and
ppl.[Age] < point.[Upper_Limit]
I have also tried replacing the NULL using ISNULL() but I realized this still does not JOIN both tables when [Age] >= 50 (not quite sure why).
Select ppl.*, point.[Point]
from #People as ppl
left join #Point_Lookup as point
on ppl.[Age] >= point.[Lower_Limit]
and ppl.[Age] < isnull(point.[Upper_Limit], point.[Upper_Limit] + 1 + ppl.
[Age])
Is there a way to somehow only consider one condition --> (ppl.[Age] >= point.[Lower_Limit]) when [Age] >= 50 (without going into the NULL in Upper_Limit)? Maybe somehow using CASE?
The expected result should show 6 Point when [Age] >= 50. Please help.

Answer 1

You can try using coalesce() function which will work like case when, so if point.[Upper_Limit] is null then it will consider later one
Select ppl.*, point.[Point]
from #People as ppl
left join #Point_Lookup as point
on ppl.[Age] >= point.[Lower_Limit]
and ppl.[Age] < coalesce(point.[Upper_Limit], point.[Lower_Limit] + 1 + ppl.
[Age])

Answer 2

If NULL means that the condition should be avoided then you can use an OR to write exactly this:
Select
ppl.*,
point.[Point]
from
#People as ppl
left join #Point_Lookup as point on
ppl.[Age] >= point.[Lower_Limit] and
(point.[Upper_Limit] IS NULL OR ppl.[Age] < point.[Upper_Limit])
In you attempt:
isnull(point.[Upper_Limit], point.[Upper_Limit] + 1 + ppl.[Age])
If point.[Upper_Limit] is NULL then any addition will also be NULL, that's why it doesn't join correctly. You should remove the point.[Upper_Limit] and just leave 1 + ppl.[Age] and it will work, but using the OR will be better for index usage (if any).

Answer 3

try this,
Select ppl.*,
(select top 1 point from #Point_Lookup where ppl.Age>=Lower_Limit and ppl.Age<=(case when Upper_Limit is null then ppl.Age else Upper_Limit end) ) from #People as ppl

Answer 4

The problem with this structure is that you can have lacks or overlaps in the ranges, also, in this case can be confusing which should be the correct point for a value equal to one of the limits...
I use to do it this way, with one single limit, the boundaries are defined by the previous and next records, and there is no way to have a lack of values out of the range
Create table #People ([Name] varchar(50) null,Age int null)
Insert into #People VALUES
('George' , 30),
('Clooney' , 18),
('Sandra' , 44),
('Bullock' , 15),
('Adam' , 100),
('Lio' , 4)
-- Code for Point_Lookup Data--
Create table #Point_Lookup ([Limit] int not null,[Point] int null)
Insert into #Point_Lookup VALUES
(0, 1),
(10, 2),
(20, 3),
(30, 4),
(40, 5),
(50, 6)
SELECT *
FROM
#People P
CROSS APPLY (
SELECT TOP 1 Point
FROM #Point_Lookup L
WHERE P.Age >= L.Limit
ORDER BY Limit DESC
) L
drop table #people
drop table #Point_Lookup