How do I create a SQL Server function to return an int?

Question

I'm trying to create a SQL Function that tests whether a parameter starts with a certain term or contains the term, but doesn't start with it.

Basically, if the parameter starts with the term, the function returns a 0. Otherwise it returns a 1.

This is the bones of the function that I have, which I'm trying to adapt from another function I found:

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[fnGetRelevance] 
(   
    @fieldName nvarchar(50),
    @searchTerm nvarchar(50)
)

RETURNS @value int -- this is showing an error, it seems to expect table but all I want is an int
(
    -- does this need to be here? If so, what should it be?
)

AS

BEGIN

    declare @field TABLE(Data nvarchar(50))

    insert into @field
        select Data from @fieldName

    if (Data like @searchTerm + '%') -- starts with
    begin       
        return 0
    end
    else if (Data like '%' + @searchTerm + '%' and Data not like @searchTerm + '%') -- contains, but doesn't start with 
    begin       
        return 1
    end

END

GO

Answer 1

You don't provide a variable name for the return value, just its type, and the parens are not needed;

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[fnGetRelevance] 
(   
    @fieldName nvarchar(50),
    @searchTerm nvarchar(50)
)

RETURNS int
AS
....

Also;

select Data from @fieldName

Will not work, you would need dynamic SQL to select from an object the name of which is in a variable.

Answer 2

for reference, this is the complete function as implemented with the suggestions from Alex K

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[fnGetRelevance] 
(   
    @fieldName nvarchar(50),
    @searchTerm nvarchar(50)
)

RETURNS  int
AS
BEGIN
    if (@fieldName like @searchTerm + '%') -- starts with
    begin       
        return 0
    end
    else if ((@fieldName like '%' + @searchTerm + '%') and (@fieldName not like @searchTerm + '%')) -- contains, but doesn't start with 
    begin       
        return 1
    end

    return 1
END

GO

Answer 3

There are a few problems here. I've added comments to the code below:

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[fnGetRelevance] 
(   
    @fieldName nvarchar(50),
    @searchTerm nvarchar(50)
)

RETURNS @value int --Returning an int is fine, but you don't need the @value variable
(
    --This isn't required (unless you're returning a table)
)

AS

BEGIN

    declare @field TABLE(Data nvarchar(50))

    --@fieldname is a varchar, not a table (is this where your error is coming from).     
    --If @fieldname is the name of a table you're going to need to exec a sql string and concat @fieldname into the string
    insert into @field
        select Data from @fieldName 

    --You need a variable to contain the value from Data 
    --(ie declare @Data and select @Data = Data)
    if (Data like @searchTerm + '%') -- starts with
    begin       
        return 0
    end
    else if (Data like '%' + @searchTerm + '%' and Data not like @searchTerm + '%') -- contains, but doesn't start with 
    begin       
        return 1
    end

END

This should get you a bit closer to what you're trying to acheive.