Re: Changing a column to proper case

> I have a MySQL file that is filled with information on the different 
> woods of the world.
> In one column for the botanical species names, some of the first 
> characters in each
> record are not capitalized when they should all be while many are 
> properly capitalized.
> I need to correct this. The database is "TAXA". The column is "species_name".
> 
> I have been using SQL statements through both phpMyAdmin and 
> MySQL-front as front ends to the database. I get part way ok but need 
> others help to understand why the final
> step does not work as follows:
> ..........................................................................................................................
> 
> This statement faithfully reports the first character in the
> species_name field:
> 
> SELECT UCASE(LEFT(species_name, 1)) from species;
> 
> This statement faithfully produces all other characters after the first
> one in the specie_name field:
> 
> SELECT RIGHT(species_name, LENGTH(species_name)-1) FROM species;
> 
> When I run both together, there is no error:
> 
> SELECT UCASE(LEFT(species_name, 1)) FROM species;
> SELECT RIGHT(species_name, LENGTH(species_name)-1) FROM species;
> 
> When I finally try to concatenate the first character back together
> with the rest of the species name, it does not work:
> 
> SELECT CONCAT(
> UCASE(LEFT(species_name, 1)) FROM species,
> RIGHT(species_name, LENGTH(species_name)) FROM species
> );

you have "FROM species" duplicated. A SELECT can only have one FROM
clause (but several tables in it). Try this.

 SELECT CONCAT(
 UCASE(LEFT(species_name, 1)), RIGHT(species_name, 
LENGTH(species_name)) 
FROM species
 );


> Instead, I get an error near    FROM species, RIGHT(species_name, 
> LENGTH(species_name)) FROM species
> 
> I know I must be close but cannot find out why this is not just working.
> 
> Also, when it finally reports the full species names correctly, does 
> it matter if I add in a SET statement to finally
> replace the old entries or should I use an UPDATE command instead of 
> SELECT? Does it matter?
> 
> I look forward to your suggestions.
> 
> Bill Mudry
> 
> 

--
Niel Archer



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