Exists (DMX)

Article
03/03/2023

Applies to: SQL Server Analysis Services

Returns true if the specified sub-query returns at least one row.

Syntax

  
EXISTS(<subquery>)

Arguments

subquery
A SELECT statement of the form SELECT * FROM <column name> [WHERE <predicate list>].

Result Type

Returns true if the result set returned by the subquery contains at least one row; otherwise, returns false.

Remarks

You can use the NOT keyword before EXISTS: for example, WHERE NOT EXISTS (<subquery>).

The list of columns that you add to the sub-query argument of EXISTS is irrelevant; the function only checks for the existence of a row that meets the condition.

Examples

You can use EXISTS and NOT EXISTS to check for conditions in a nested table. This is useful when creating a filter that controls the data used to train or test a data mining model. For more information, see Filters for Mining Models (Analysis Services - Data Mining).

The following example is based on the [Association] mining structure and mining model that you created in the Basic Data Mining Tutorial. The query returns only those cases where the customer purchased at least one patch kit.

SELECT * FROM [Association].CASES  
WHERE EXISTS  
(  
SELECT * FROM [v Assoc Seq Line Numbers]  
WHERE [[Model] = 'Patch kit'  
)

Another way to view the same data that is returned by this query is to open the model in the Association viewer, right-click the itemset Patch kit = Existing, select the Drill Through option, and then select Model Cases Only.