if 1 > (select count(*) from celebrities where (professions='002' or professions like '002 %' or professions like '% 002' or professions like '% 002 %') and cel_id=X ) then /* Celebrity isn't an actor, so add to the end */ update celebrities set professions = '002' || case when professions is null then '' else ' '||professions end where cel_id=X; end if;