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 selecting all but 1 value in a column using where?

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SQLIsTheDevil
Posting Yak Master

177 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-31 : 10:52:26
Is there an efficient query for selecting all but x values in a column? Say I have a table with a column called named Category. In this column, I have the values: Birthday, Wedding, Halloween, Christmas, Baby Shower, Engagement, and SuperBowl. Keep in mind, these values will be listed multiple times, but those are the distinct values discussed.

Now I want to select all values in the table where Category is equal to all the values shown except 1. In general, all but X would be nice, too. Instead of doing something like this:

select *
from table1
where Category = 'Halloween' or Category = 'Birthday' or ...

I'd like to make a query that accomplishes the task I set out with as little overhead as possible. Is it possible or must I specify each individual value I need in my query?

thank you.

jhocutt
Constraint Violating Yak Guru

385 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-31 : 10:55:22
where category <> ' 'Birthday'
or where category != 'Birthday'


"God does not play dice" -- Albert Einstein
"Not only does God play dice, but he sometimes throws them where they cannot be seen."
-- Stephen Hawking
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SQLIsTheDevil
Posting Yak Master

177 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-31 : 11:33:27
LOL Thanks for making me feel like a complete jackass.
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spirit1
Cybernetic Yak Master

11752 Posts

Posted - 2007-10-31 : 14:10:30
you can also use
not in (...)

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