Help: How to use if/then/else with SQL

[crawf0rd]

I can't for the life of me figure out how to make a working if/then/else statement.

I'm trying to make one that would work like this:

IF NumOfApples = 5 WHERE Type = AppleBasket THEN NumOfOranges = 2 WHERE Type = OrangeBasket ELSE NumOfOranges = 3 WHERE Type = OrangeBasket

I hope the example isn't too confusing, if it is I can supply my attempt at it.
Also, maybe this goes in an sql-centric forum? I didn't know, and I knew you guys knew your stuff.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[whoward69]

Simple answer is ... SQL is a langauge for database manipulation, not programming, so there are no if/then/else type forms

Complex answer is ... in some circumstances you can achieve similiar effects with UPDATE, SELECT and UNION

It would be easier with a "real life" example, (as you've omitted key table name information from your pseudo-code)