Is there a simple way to convert MySQL data into Title Case?

Question

I have a MySQL table where all the data in one column was entered in UPPERCASE, but I need to convert in to Title Case, with recognition of \"small words\" akin to the Darin

Answer 1

My solution for simple proper case:

CREATE FUNCTION `proper_case`(str varchar(128)) RETURNS varchar(128)
BEGIN
DECLARE n, pos INT DEFAULT 1;
DECLARE sub, proper VARCHAR(128) DEFAULT '';

if length(trim(str)) > 0 then
    WHILE pos > 0 DO
        set pos = locate(' ',trim(str),n);
        if pos = 0 then
            set sub = lower(trim(substr(trim(str),n)));
        else
            set sub = lower(trim(substr(trim(str),n,pos-n)));
        end if;

        set proper = concat_ws(' ', proper, concat(upper(left(sub,1)),substr(sub,2)));
        set n = pos + 1;
    END WHILE;
end if;

RETURN trim(proper);
END

Use it as:

SELECT proper_case("JOHN DOE");

Output:

John Doe