MySQL - UPDATE multiple rows with different values in one query

I am trying to understand how to UPDATE multiple rows with different values and I just don't get it. The solution is everywhere but to me it looks difficult to understand.

For instance, three updates into 1 query:

UPDATE table_users
SET cod_user = '622057'
    , date = '12082014'
WHERE user_rol = 'student'
    AND cod_office = '17389551'; 

UPDATE table_users
SET cod_user = '2913659'
    , date = '12082014'
WHERE user_rol = 'assistant'
    AND cod_office = '17389551'; 

UPDATE table_users
SET cod_user = '6160230'
    , date = '12082014'
WHERE user_rol = 'admin'
    AND cod_office = '17389551'; 

I read an example, but I really don't understand how to make the query. i.e:

UPDATE table_to_update
SET cod_user= IF(cod_office = '17389551','622057','2913659','6160230')
    ,date = IF(cod_office = '17389551','12082014')
WHERE ?? IN (??) ;

I'm not entirely clear how to do the query if there are multiple condition in the WHERE and in the IF condition..any ideas?

Solution 1:

You can do it this way:

UPDATE table_users
    SET cod_user = (case when user_role = 'student' then '622057'
                         when user_role = 'assistant' then '2913659'
                         when user_role = 'admin' then '6160230'
                    end),
        date = '12082014'
    WHERE user_role in ('student', 'assistant', 'admin') AND
          cod_office = '17389551';

I don't understand your date format. Dates should be stored in the database using native date and time types.

Solution 2:

MySQL allows a more readable way to combine multiple updates into a single query. This seems to better fit the scenario you describe, is much easier to read, and avoids those difficult-to-untangle multiple conditions.

INSERT INTO table_users (cod_user, date, user_rol, cod_office)
VALUES
('622057', '12082014', 'student', '17389551'),
('2913659', '12082014', 'assistant','17389551'),
('6160230', '12082014', 'admin', '17389551')
ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE
 cod_user=VALUES(cod_user), date=VALUES(date)

This assumes that the user_rol, cod_office combination is a primary key. If only one of these is the primary key, then add the other field to the UPDATE list. If neither of them is a primary key (that seems unlikely) then this approach will always create new records - probably not what is wanted.

However, this approach makes prepared statements easier to build and more concise.