SQL Server using wildcard within IN

sql sql-server wildcard in-function
Dusty picture Dusty · Jul 2, 2009 · Viewed 108.9k times · Source

Since I believe this should be a basic question I know this question has probably been asked, but I am unable to find it. I'm probably about to earn my Peer Pressure badge, but I'll ask anyway:

Is there a way in SQL Server that I am not aware of for using the wildcard character % when using IN.

I realize that I can use OR's like:

select *
from jobdetails
where job_no like '0711%' or job_no like '0712%'

and in some cases I can use a subquery like:

select *
from jobdetails
where job_no in (select job_no from jobs where job_id = 39)

but I'm looking to do something like the following:

select *
from jobdetails
where job_no in ('0711%', '0712%')

In this case it uses the percent sign as a character instead of a wildcard character so no rows are returned. I currently just use a bunch of OR's when I have to do this, but I know there has to be a better way. What method do you use for this?

Answer

Aaron Alton picture Aaron Alton · Jul 2, 2009

How about:

WHERE LEFT(job_no, 4) IN ('0711', '0712', ...)

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