Comments on: SQL SERVER – Solution – 2 T-SQL Puzzles – Display Star and Shortest Code to Display 1

By: Kamal Yare

Kamal Yare — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 05:13:48 +0000

SELECT COUNT(getdate())

By: iamAkashSingh

iamAkashSingh — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:45:37 +0000

Not the shortest one but i guess unique one :-)
SELECT CONVERT (bit, ‘true’)

By: iamAkashSingh

iamAkashSingh — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:44:51 +0000

Something unique but not not shortest one..
SELECT CONVERT (bit, ‘true’)

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Thu, 11 Oct 2012 01:31:17 +0000

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By: sql

sql — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:51:03 +0000

hi, when the results will be announced.. ?

By: pinaldave

pinaldave — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:46:03 +0000

SELECT COUNT(*) has 6+8=14 chars
SELECT EXP($) has 6+6=12 chars

The contest was of shortest code. Just like EXP, COUNT is also built in function and like $, * is also symbol. I think looking at this SELECT COUNT(*) is not a right answer but SELECT EXP($) is.

Again remember the contest was to write shortest code to display 1.

By: Girijesh Pandey

Girijesh Pandey — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:00:58 +0000

Hi Pinal,

Agreed with your response, what Satya has just asked.
How about it if i have used below code to get 1.

Mine Code:-
SELECT COUNT(*)

I think, this is another shortest way to get 1, as in your code you have used built in function EXP with SELECT Statement for a special symbol Dollar ($).

Your code:-
SELECT EXP($)

Just correct me if i am wrong, would be more than happy to listen you.

Regards,
Girijesh

By: pinaldave

pinaldave — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 09:32:14 +0000

Satya,

SELECT LEN(‘a’) and many other are for sure returning result but they are not shortest code when compared to SELECT EXP($). There are two extra characters in SELECT LEN(‘a’).

The answer should shortest length.

By: Satya Krishna

Satya Krishna — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 09:27:57 +0000

HI Pinal ,
Why not SELECT Len(‘a’) ? I hope this also can be right answer. If not pls explain me

By: deanvr

deanvr — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:02:11 +0000

nice question though even if I do get some stick for my answer, I was also thinking of the print statement… Im up for anything that makes sql fun!

By: deanvr

deanvr — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:00:04 +0000

SELECT ’1′

the reason for using ’1′ (and I got some slack for using ’1′) is because technically ’1′ is NOT a number it is a char! so select ’1′ does reproduce the requested output, and if you where using ado to set to int sql server likes to do something called implicit casting.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:01:48 +0000

So, what’s that $ thingie? Does sql server have access to my bank account, or how does it know that it’s zero?
Seriously, is that some kind of built-in variable or something?

By: pinaldave

pinaldave — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:18:00 +0000

Great Point. I have added the same in explanation.

By: pinaldave

pinaldave — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:16:50 +0000

The conditions were – not to use any digit so 1 will not be considered – even SELECT 1 will not be considered.
Additionally, what is the fun if answer was just to display 1 using PRINT and SELECT. The trick was to display 1 without using 1.

By: Priya

Priya — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 02:33:30 +0000

Hi Pinal,

Is print 1 not considered?

By: Garrett

Garrett — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 02:18:50 +0000

Though EXP and COS return the desired result, I think SELECT DAY($) is ‘more correct’ because that result returns an integer rather than a float.