When we use an OVER() clause to create a window function in SQL, we often use a PARTITION BY clause to partition the results. This can be handy if we want to do stuff like calculate subtotals.
But we can also use an empty OVER clause to calculate a grand total.
We might want to do this if we’re already using another OVER clause to calculate subtotals, but we also want a column to provide the grand total.
We can use the OVER() clause to create window functions in our SQL queries. A window function can be a useful tool that allows us to do things like compute moving averages, rank items, calculate cumulative sums, and much more.
Another common task for a window function might be to compute subtotals.
Continue readingWhen we create a CHECK constraint in MySQL, we have the option of defining it as ENFORCED or NOT ENFORCED.
MySQL CHECK constraints are enforced by default, so unless we explicitly define the constraint as NOT ENFORCED, it will automatically be enforced.
In any case, we can use either of the following two methods to check whether or not an existing CHECK constraint is enforced.
If you’re getting MySQL error 3582, which reads something like “Window ‘w1’ has a frame definition, so cannot be referenced by another window“, it’s probably because you’re referencing a named window that has a frame clause.
This can happen when we use the WINDOW clause to define a named window for a window function, and we include a frame clause in that window. When we then try to reference that window, MySQL tells us that we can’t, due to the frame clause.
Sometimes when we use the SQL GROUP BY clause to group queries, it would be nice to have totals and subtotals included in the query results.
For example, if our query returns cities and their populations, grouped by the city’s district and perhaps also grouped by country, it would be nice to include subtotals for each district (based on the aggregate populations of all cities in the district). And it might also be nice to have the total population of each country, based on the same aggregate data.
Another way of putting it is that we want to get a summary of the summary. Or an aggregate of the aggregate. This is sometimes referred to as “super aggregate”.
Fortunately, in MySQL we can use the WITH ROLLUP modifier of the GROUP BY clause to achieve exactly that.
If you’re getting MySQL error 3583, which reads something like “Window ‘<unnamed window>’ cannot inherit ‘wf’ since both contain an ORDER BY clause“, it’s probably because you’re using an ORDER BY clause when referring to a named window that also has its own ORDER BY clause.
To fix this issue, don’t use the ORDER BY clause when referring to a named window that already has an ORDER BY clause in its definition.
When running SQL database queries, sometimes we need to use a window function in order to get the results we’re looking for. A window function is an aggregate-like function that enables partitioning and ordering of data within a result set.
The OVER clause is what enables us to create a window function.
The examples below demonstrate how we can incorporate the OVER clause in our SQL queries.
If we want to remove a CHECK constraint from a table, but we don’t want to drop the table or column, we can use the ALTER TABLE statement with DROP CHECK.
Once the constraint has been dropped, data can be entered into the table without having to conform to the rules of the CHECK constraint.
If you’re getting MySQL error 1364, that reads something like Field 'column_name' doesn't have a default value, where column_name is the name of a column in your table, it’s probably because you’re trying to perform an operation that retrieves the column’s default value, but it doesn’t have a default value.
This can happen when the column is set to NOT NULL and hasn’t been defined with an explicit default value.
The solution to this issue will depend on what we’re trying to do. Below are examples of how to fix this error.
Continue readingThe information schema is a standard set of read-only views that provide metadata about objects in a database. These views are typically accessed by qualifying the view name with INFORMATION_SCHEMA (for example INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES). But before we do this, we need to know which views are available in the first place.