---
title: "How to use SQL case statement to improve the visual appeal"
canonical: "https://support.appfire.com/space/SUPPORT/89138455/How%20to%20use%20SQL%20case%20statement%20to%20improve%20the%20visual%20appeal"
format: markdown
---
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## Description
Most databases support some flavor of the SQL case statement making it easy to modify what appears in a column. This article illustrates the process of combining a case statement with Confluence capabilities like macros to enhance the way information is displayed.
## Using emoticons
This example uses emoticons to visually indicate some aspects of the data imported to the viewers.
- Use a standard *SQL Query* macro to access your data source that contains the data you want to query.
- Use *wiki* for the *Output format* parameter.
- SQL utilizes a case statement. In this example, we use Postgres but other databases can require similar case statements. Consult your database documentation's case statement for more details.
##### **SQL **
```sql
select
"Product",
"Plan",
"Revenue",
case
when "Revenue" >= "Plan" then '(/)'
else '(x)'
end as "Met Plan"
from products
```
## Using macros
This example uses a Confluence macro to add visual pointers.
- Use a standard *SQL Query* macro to access your data source that contains the data you want to query.
- Use *wiki* for the *Output format* parameter.
- SQL utilizes a case statement. In this example, we use Postgres but other databases can require similar case statements. Consult your database documentation's case statement for more details.
##### **SQL **
```sql
select
"Product",
"Plan",
case
when "Revenue" >= "Plan" then '{color:green}*' || "Revenue" || '*{color}'
else '{color:red}*' || "Revenue" || '*{color}'
end as "Revenue"
from products
```
