In MySQL, you can use the FORMAT() function to format a number to a specific format. This function accepts three parameters; the number, the number of decimal places, and an optional locale.
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How to Format Numbers in SQL Server
Starting from SQL Server 2012, you can format numeric types using the T-SQL FORMAT() function. This function accepts three arguments; the number, the format, and an optional “culture” argument.
It returns a formatted string of type nvarchar.
The format is supplied as a format string. A format string defines how the output should be formatted.
Here’s an example:
SELECT FORMAT(1, 'N');
Result:
1.00
In this case, I used N as the second argument. This is the standard numeric format specifier for Number. This particular format specifier (N) results in the output being formatted with integral and decimal digits, group separators, and a decimal separator with optional negative sign. This argument is case-insensitive, so either N or n is fine.
How to Format the Date & Time in SQL Server
In SQL Server, you can use the T-SQL FORMAT() function to format the date and/or time. Simply provide two arguments; the date/time and the format to use.
The format is supplied as a format string. A format string defines how the output should be formatted.
The FORMAT() function also accepts an optional “culture” argument, which allows you to specify a language/locale that the results should adhere to.
How to Add a Separator to a Concatenated String in MySQL – CONCAT_WS()
In MySQL, the CONCAT_WS() function allows you to add a separator to concatenated strings. If you just use the CONCAT() function, you’d have no separator (unless you explicitly added a separator as an argument between each string argument).
A common usage of the CONCAT_WS() function is to create a comma-delimited list.
How to Add a Separator to a Concatenated String in SQL Server – CONCAT_WS()
In SQL Server and Azure, if you need to concatenate two or more strings, you can use the T-SQLÂ CONCAT() function. As with any basic concatenation operation, this function joins the strings together, end-to-end.
But what if you need to add a separator between each string?
For example, you might want to make a comma-separated list of strings. In this case, you’d want to insert a comma in between each string. Like this:
Paris, France
Instead of this:
ParisFrance
Fortunately, T-SQL provides the CONCAT_WS() function that helps you do exactly that. The CONCAT_WS() function works just like the CONCAT() function, except that it takes an extra argument – the separator you’d like to use.
How to Concatenate Strings in SQL Server with CONCAT()
In SQL Server, you can concatenate two or more strings by using the T-SQLÂ CONCAT() function. You can also use SQL Server’s string concatenation operator (+) to do the same thing. Both are explained here.
In SQL Server (and in any computer programming environment), string concatenation is the operation of joining character strings end-to-end.
Here’s an example:
SELECT CONCAT('Peter', ' ', 'Griffin') AS 'Full Name';
Result:
Full Name ------------- Peter Griffin
Note that I actually concatenated 3 strings here. I concatenated the first name, the last name, plus a space.
How to Concatenate Strings in MySQL with CONCAT()
MySQL has the CONCAT() function, which allows you to concatenate two or more strings. The function actually allows for one or more arguments, but its main use is to concatenate two or more strings.
In MySQL (and in any computer programming environment), string concatenation is the operation of joining character strings end-to-end.
Here’s an example:
SELECT CONCAT('Homer', ' ', 'Simpson') AS 'Full Name';
Result:
+---------------+ | Full Name | +---------------+ | Homer Simpson | +---------------+
Note that I actually concatenated 3 strings here. I concatenated the first name, the last name, plus a space.
How to Install SQL Server on a Mac with VirtualBox
Here I’ll show you how to install SQL Server on a Mac with VirtualBox running Windows (a free trial edition).
The result of this is that you’ll have both Windows and SQL Server running on your Mac. And because you’re using VirtualBox, switching between macOS and Windows is as easy as switching between any other application.
As mentioned, this method involves Windows. If that scares you, then you might be better off installing SQL Server on your Mac via a Docker container. That method doesn’t involve Windows in any shape or form.
But if you don’t mind using Windows (or if you need to), here are the main steps for installing SQL Server for Windows on your Mac using VirtualBox:
- Download and Install VirtualBox
- Create a New Virtual Machine (VM)
- Download the Windows ISO image
- Install Windows
- Download and Install SQL Server
Below are more detailed instructions for each of these steps.
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How to Set the Character Set and Collation of a Database in MySQL
In MySQL, you can specify the character set and collation at various levels. You can specify them at the connection level, the server level, the database level, the table level, and the column level. You can also specify a collation in your queries so that it overrides any collation that has been previously specified at the aforementioned levels.
To set the character set and collation at the database level, you can use the CREATE DATABASE statement or ALTER DATABASE statement (depending on whether you’re creating the database or modifying it).
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How to Set the Character Set and Collation of a Table in MySQL
In MySQL, you can specify the character set and collation at various levels. You can specify them at the connection level, the server level, the database level, the table level, and the column level. You can also specify a collation in your queries so that it overrides any collation that has been previously specified at the aforementioned levels.
To set the character set and collation at the table level, you can use the CREATE TABLE statement or ALTER TABLE statement (depending on whether you’re creating the table or modifying it).
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