Match set (SAP Library - Reference Manual 7.2 (BC))

Match set

If a match set is specified, this position in the search pattern can be replaced by the exact number of characters specified in the match set.

Syntax

<match char> ::= any character except %, *, X'1F', underscore, ?, X'1E', (.
<match class> ::= <match range> | <match element>

<match range> ::= <match element>-<match element> (character range)

<match element> ::= any character except )

Explanation

A LIKE predicate is used to search for character strings that have a certain pattern. Match sets can be used to specify the pattern ( pattern element).

<underscore> | ? | X'1E' : this position in the pattern can be replaced by any character.

match char : this position in the pattern can be replaced by the specified character itself.

A sequence of character classes ( match classes ) can be negated by prefixing it with Ù or ~ or Ø. You cannot negate each character class individually.

Model table: customer

Finding all customers whose names consist of six letters and begin with 'P':

SELECT name, city FROM customer
WHERE name LIKE 'P?????'

NAME

CITY

Porter

New York

Peters

Los Angeles