You can do something like: SELECT NAME, CASE WHEN NAME = 'AIMEE GORE' THEN 1 ELSE 0 END EXACT_MATCH FROM AG_CLIENT WHERE NAME = 'AIMEE GORE' OR NAME IN ('AIMEE','AIMEE GORE') ORDER BY 2 DESC Your calling program can check the value in exact_match. If 1, then no reason to fetch any more records (unless you expect duplicates), otherwise fetch all remaining records. HTH, ----------------------------------------- Alan Davey Senior Analyst/Project Leader Oracle 9i OCA; 3/4 OCP w) 973.267.5990 x458 w) 212.295.3458 -----Original Message----- From: elain he [mailto:elainhe@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 1:33 PM To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: if-then-else in SELECT Hi, I would like to retrieve records based on the following if-then-else criteria. for eg. retrieve all empolyee names='AIMEE GORE' if there is no exact match, retrieve employee names='AIMEE' or employee_name='GORE' How can I write the SQL? DB - 8i thanks. elain _________________________________________________________________ Learn how to help protect your privacy and prevent fraud online at Tech Hacks & Scams. http://special.msn.com/msnbc/techsafety.armx ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html ----------------------------------------------------------------- "This information in this e-mail is intended solely for the addressee and may contain information which is confidential or privileged. Access to this e-mail by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, or believe that you have received this communication in error, please do not print, copy, retransmit, disseminate, or otherwise use the information. Also, please notify the sender that you have received this e-mail in error, and delete the copy you received." ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html -----------------------------------------------------------------