force a ceiling to count(*) in sql query - sql

Question

I am using a subquery to return a count as an integer value to my main query. This query is used to rebind an ASP.NET DataGrid and I have only two characters width available for this column. I want to restrict the width to two characters. So, I want to set a value of 99 when the count exceeds 99. I can't figure a way to do this? I can't see how to apply a case statement here.
SELECT
MEMB_ID,
MEMB_Name,
SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM SessionOrder
WHERE SessionOrder.SORD_MEMB_ID = m.MEMB_ID
And SessionOrder.SORD_NumberCompleteDownloads <> 0
As MEMB_Downloads,
MEMB_JoinDate
FROM Member
How can this be done?

Answer 1

Replace
COUNT(*)
With
CASE WHEN COUNT(*) > 99 THEN 99 ELSE COUNT(*) END AS YourColumnName

Answer 2

The CASE expression can look like this:
CASE WHEN COUNT(*) > 99 THEN 99 ELSE COUNT(*) END
There appear to be a couple of errors with your existing query (for example m is not defined). With these errors corrected and the above change made the resulting query could look like this:
SELECT
MEMB_ID,
MEMB_Name,
(
SELECT CASE WHEN COUNT(*) > 99 THEN 99 ELSE COUNT(*) END
FROM SessionOrder
WHERE SessionOrder.SORD_MEMB_ID = MEMB_ID
AND SessionOrder.SORD_NumberCompleteDownloads <> 0
) AS MEMB_Downloads,
MEMB_JoinDate
FROM Member

Answer 3

This might be a bit more efficient. As it can stop scanning rows once the 99th is reached.
SELECT MEMB_ID ,
MEMB_Name,
( SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM (
SELECT TOP 99 *
FROM SessionOrder
WHERE SessionOrder.SORD_MEMB_ID = MEMB_ID
AND SessionOrder.SORD_NumberCompleteDownloads <> 0
)
Top99
) AS MEMB_Downloads,
MEMB_JoinDate
FROM Member

Answer 4

Rather than change the COUNT(*) result, better count at most 99:
SELECT
MEMB_ID,
MEMB_Name,
(SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM (
SELECT TOP(99) *
FROM SessionOrder
WHERE SessionOrder.SORD_MEMB_ID = m.MEMB_ID
And SessionOrder.SORD_NumberCompleteDownloads <> 0)
as TOP99_Downloads)
As MEMB_Downloads,
MEMB_JoinDate
FROM Member;
This way you avoid counting all the downloads when you'll only display 99 anyway. Of course, one would ask what is the point of displaying a value if is incorrect to start with and why not make your UI layer capable of displaying 'more than 99'.

Answer 5

CASE it should be ...

Answer 6

or double UNION as
SELECT
MEMB_ID,
MEMB_Name,
SELECT COUNT(*) AS WC
FROM SessionOrder
WHERE SessionOrder.SORD_MEMB_ID = m.MEMB_ID
And SessionOrder.SORD_NumberCompleteDownloads <> 0
And WC =< 99
As MEMB_Downloads,
MEMB_JoinDate
FROM Member
UNION
SELECT
MEMB_ID,
MEMB_Name,
99 AS WC
FROM SessionOrder
WHERE SessionOrder.SORD_MEMB_ID = m.MEMB_ID
And SessionOrder.SORD_NumberCompleteDownloads <> 0
And WC > 99
As MEMB_Downloads,
MEMB_JoinDate
FROM Member