How can I create a blank/hardcoded column in a sql query?

Question

I want have a query with a column that is a hardcoded value not from a table, can this be done? I need it basically as a placeholder that I am going to come back to later a

Answer 1

Thank you, in PostgreSQL this works for boolean

SELECT
hat,
shoe,
boat,
false as placeholder
FROM
objects

Answer 2

This should work on most databases. You can also select a blank string as your extra column like so:

Select
  Hat, Show, Boat, '' as SomeValue
From
  Objects

Answer 3

For varchars, you may need to do something like this:

select convert(varchar(25), NULL) as abc_column into xyz_table

If you try

select '' as abc_column into xyz_table

you may get errors related to truncation, or an issue with null values, once you populate.

Answer 4

SELECT
    hat,
    shoe,
    boat,
    0 as placeholder -- for column having 0 value    
FROM
    objects


--OR '' as Placeholder -- for blank column    
--OR NULL as Placeholder -- for column having null value

Answer 5

SELECT
    hat,
    shoe,
    boat,
    0 as placeholder
FROM
    objects

And '' as placeholder for strings.

Answer 6

The answers above are correct, and what I'd consider the "best" answers. But just to be as complete as possible, you can also do this directly in CF using queryAddColumn.

See http://www.cfquickdocs.com/cf9/#queryaddcolumn

Again, it's more efficient to do it at the database level... but it's good to be aware of as many alternatives as possible (IMO, of course) :)