line CASE statemelnt in query a la Oracle

I would like to have a query replace a NULL in  a field with a truncated value from one field based on a size passed
in?

Basically, I'd like to be able to generate a 'short title' for a record based on either the user's input for  a short
title,or a turncated 'normal title' at query time.  

Would this be very expensive processor timewise?

I might just feed the whole long title in and have the display properties of the browser truncate it.


Dennis Gearon

Signature Warning
----------------
EARTH has a Right To Life,
  otherwise we all die.

Read 'Hot, Flat, and Crowded'
Laugh at http://www.yert.com/film.php