Firebird 2.1 List Function

The List function in Firebird 2.1.

This is an aggregate function that returns a string with the field values concatenated using a delimiter. the default delimiter is the comma. So it's similar to the SUM function, but instead of adding numbers, this function concatenate strings. if some of the values is null then the function returns null.

So suppose I have 2 tables, projects and resources, and I know that a project will have a few resources assigned. Now I need to write a report of projects showing their resources assigned.

CREATE TABLE projects(
project_id INTEGER,
name string
);

CREATE TABLE resources(
project_id integer,
user_name string
);



Without the LIST function I have to write this query

SELECT
p.project_id as id,
p.name,
r.user_name
FROM
projects p INNER JOIN
resources r ON p.project_id = r.project_id

my result will be like this

id name user_name
-------------------------
1 Project_1 Steve
1 Project_1 John
2 Project_2 Jim
2 Project_2 Ed

Then in the report I will need to group the records with the same project_id so I don't show duplicate projects for each resource assigned.

Now with Firebird 2.1 I can write the query using the LIST function

SELECT
p.project_id AS id,
p.name,
LIST(r.user_name, ', ') AS resources
FROM
projects p INNER JOIN
resources r ON p.project_id = r.project_id
GROUP BY
p.project_id,
p.name


my result will be like this

id name resources
-----------------------------
1 Project_1 Steve, John
2 Project_2 Jim, Ed


then in my report I only need to show the results of my query, I don't need to create groups.

The list function returns a BLOB data type, so if I need to display the result in a grid I often CAST the result to varchar. The delimiter parameter is not required (I added because I like to add a space after the comma). You can see more details of how to use the LIST function in the Firebird 2.1 Release Notes

This function is also useful in reports when you need details values in the same row as the master data like in reports headers or footers.

Comentarios

  1. Hola, viendo tus ejemplos y en especial el último query. ¿es posible que se pueda ordenar los datos de la tercer columna?
    Es decir que ordene la columna user_name algo asi:

    id name resources
    -----------------------------
    1 Project_1 John, Steve
    2 Project_2 Ed, Jim

    Gracias!

    Recien encontré tu blog y me parecen interesantes los temas que tratas. Saludos!

    ResponderBorrar
  2. Hola Iván,
    No lo he intentando, pero basado en esta respuesta de Dmitry Yemanov, me parece que no es posible.

    Saludos

    ResponderBorrar
  3. Gracias por tu respuesta, creo que efectivamente no se puede. Saludos!

    ResponderBorrar
  4. Busque la forma de realizar el orden del list y pude realizarlo de esta manera

    with VT_list as (
    select p.project_id,r.user_name
    from Projects p
    INNER JOIN resources r ON p.project_id = r.project_id
    order by r.user_name
    )
    SELECT p.project_id AS id, p.name,LIST(r.user_name, ', ') AS Resources
    FROM Projects p
    INNER JOIN VT_lista r ON p.project_id = r.project_id
    GROUP BY p.project_id,p.name

    Posiblemente le pueda ayudar a alguien mas que este buscando lo mismo

    ResponderBorrar
  5. Sabes cómo se podría hacer lo mismo pero con la versión 2.0 de Firebird? Ya que aquella versión no cuenta con esta función agregada LIST.

    De antemano muchas gracias!

    ResponderBorrar
  6. Jessrom, disculpa no te haya contestado antes. Tenía un poco abandonado el blog. Volviendo a la pregunta: no se me ocurre una forma concreta de conseguir el mismo resultado que la función List.
    Quizás usaría un Stored Procedure y un For Select e ir concatenado en una variable los valores.

    ResponderBorrar

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