sqlconcatenationrowmonetdb

SQL : Concatenate data from a column depending on another column and reading row above


I am writing you because I can't find any solution to my problem, and I don't even know if there is a way to do it. I'm working in SQL (MonetDB).

I have a table like this :

username Field1 Field2
AAA NULL 1
AAA type1 12
AAA type2 21
AAA type3 1
BBB null 6
BBB type1 2
BBB type4 3
CCC type1 23
CCC type3 352
CCC type4 12

This table is already sorted by username (with nulls first), then field1, and i don't have any replicates on these two colums together.

I need to update another column. When the row above have the same username and field1 isn't null, then new field3 should be the CONCAT(Field1, Field2) Then for the next row, if the username is the same but Field1 isn't null again and different from the previous one, then Field3 should be CONCAT(previous Field3, Field1, Field2).

I'm trying to adapt a treatement who do it, row by row, and retain the last value saved, that's why i'm struggling about doing it in a relational db.

My final results should be :

username Field1 Field2 Field 3
AAA NULL 1
AAA type1 12 type1 : 12
AAA type2 21 type1 : 12 type 2 : 21
AAA type3 1 type1 : 12 type 2 : 21 type3: 1
BBB null 6
BBB type1 2 type1:2
BBB type4 3 type1:2 type4:3
CCC type1 23 type1 : 23
CCC type3 352 type1 : 23 type 3:352
CCC type4 12 type1 : 23 type 3:352 type 4:12

The final goal is afterwards to select username and the longest field3 by username. Hope I've been clear in what I need to do, tell me if you need more explanations. Thank you for your help !


Solution

  • If you want to use information in a previous row, you have to look into "window functions". They exist in a number of SQL databases, including MonetDB: https://www.monetdb.org/Documentation/SQLReference/FunctionsAndOperators/WindowFunctions

    The condition

    WHERE LAG(username) OVER (ORDER BY username, field1) = username
    

    will check if the previous line's username (with the order given by username, field) is equal to the current line's username.