How do I validate these columns, do i need more complex triggers? - sql

Question

I'm trying to validate the columns in the table ProjectDetails.TimeCards
create table ProjectDetails.TimeCards(
Time_Card_ID int identity (55,15),
Employee_ID int foreign key references HumanResources.Employees(Employee_ID),
Date_Issued date, --DateIssued should be greater than the current date and the project start date (Project start date is from another table).
Days_Worked int constraint chk_Days_Worked check(Days_Worked > '0'),
Project_ID int foreign key references ProjectDetails.Projects(Project_ID),
Billable_hours int constraint chk_Billable_Hours check (Billable_Hours > '0'),
Total_Cost money, -- should be automatically calculated by using the following formula: TotalCost=Billable Hours * BillingRate (billing rate is from another table)
Work_Code_ID int foreign key references ProjectDetails.WorkCodes(Work_Code_ID)
);
I tried building a trigger, but was only able to get the trigger to fire if the Date_Issued was less than the current date
CREATE TRIGGER dateissued
ON ProjectDetails.TimeCards
FOR INSERT
AS
DECLARE #ModifiedDate date
SELECT #ModifiedDate = Date_Issued FROM Inserted
IF (#ModifiedDate < getdate())
BEGIN
PRINT 'The modified date should be the current date. Hence, cannot insert.'
ROLLBACK TRANSACTION -- transaction is to be rolled back
END
i need the trigger to fire if the Date issued is less than the current date and also if date issued is less than the start_date. As for the billing rate calculation i'm lost there.
This is the other table
create table ProjectDetails.Projects(
Project_ID int identity (0100, 01) primary key, -- Primary key
Project_Name char (50) not null,
Start_Date date not null, -- the start date i'm referring to
End_Date date not null,
constraint CheckEndLaterThanStart check (End_Date > Start_Date),
Billing_Estimate money constraint chk_Billing_Estimate check (Billing_Estimate > '1000'),
Client_ID int Foreign Key references CustomerDetails.Clients(Client_ID)
);

Answer 1

I believe this provides the logic you are after. There are a couple of comments in the code for you:
CREATE TRIGGER trg_chk_Date_Issued ON ProjectDetails.TimeCards
FOR INSERT, UPDATE --I assume on need on UPDATE as well, as otherwise this won't validate
AS BEGIN
IF EXISTS(SELECT 1
FROM inserted i
JOIN ProjectDetails.Projects P ON i.Project_ID = P.Project_ID
WHERE i.Date_Issued < CONVERT(date,GETDATE())
OR i.Date_Issued < P.Start_Date) BEGIN
RAISERROR(N'Date Issued cannot be less than the current date or the Project Start Date.', 10,1); --Raised an error, rather than using PRINT
ROLLBACK;
END
END
Note that you may want a different trigger for UPDATE, as if you are updating the row, and Date_Issued has a value lower than the date of the UPDATE, the statement will fail.