How Can You Sum Comma-Separated Numbers in a Column in MySQL Versions Prior to 5?

Summing a Comma-Separated Column in MySQL, Versions Prior to 5

In certain scenarios, you may encounter a MySQL database where a DECIMAL column contains comma-separated lists of numbers. To accommodate this situation, you may need to perform a summation operation on these numbers. However, MySQL versions prior to 5 do not provide an SQL-only solution for this task.

MySQL Version Considerations

It's important to note that MySQL version 4 is an outdated and unsupported version. Upgrades to MySQL 5 or later are strongly encouraged due to the availability of essential features and security updates. However, if you are unable to upgrade for any reason, alternative solutions must be explored.

Alternative Solution for MySQL 4

Since MySQL version 4 lacks the necessary functionality for manipulating strings, the use of stored procedures is recommended. However, this approach is not natively supported in MySQL 4. Therefore, it is not feasible to provide an elegant SQL-only solution for summing comma-separated columns in this context.

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