Case or If/Then - Generic Question

[Arsenal]

Hi guys,

I have a general programming question that maybe relates to load handling.

Given a choice, which one should be preferred? A Case statement or an If/Then/Else logic? Is there more processing involved in one or the other, or is it the same for both?

Thanks

[blom0344]

Hard to tell. In fact, the expressions you define are used by the server's UDA to compile the proper SQL syntax for the database you are addressing. So , in fact the 'IF THEN ELSE' would probably make some sense with SQL servers T-sql. However, non-procedural SQL in other databases need to work with CASE statements , cause outside procedures the SQL compiler can't work with If Then Else.

Bottom-line: CASE is more generic, UDA will recompile (all) the COgnos SQL at runtime and I doubt there will be much of a difference.

[almeids]

I haven't seen a (performance) difference in my experience; my rule of thumb is to use CASE just for readability whenever the condition would require nesting IFs.