T-SQL - GROUP BY with LIKE - is this possible?

Question

Is there a way to include a LIKE expression in a GROUP BY query? For example:

SELECT Count(*) 
FROM tblWhatever
GROUP BY column_x [LIKE %Fall-2009%]


        

Answer 1

You can have it this way, but like the others said, doesn't really make sense:

SELECT COUNT(*) 
    FROM tblWhatever
GROUP BY column_x 
HAVING column_x LIKE '%Fall-2009%'

Answer 2

I dont believe so, LIKE is effectively a binary state - something is LIKE or NOT LIKE, there are not logical degrees of 'likeness' that could be grouped together. Then again, I could be off my rocker.

If what you really want is to express filtering over your grouped data take a look at the HAVING clause.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms180199.aspx