mysql conditional query - complicated

I want to get distinct values for a field, let say: field1... This needs a query like: "select distin开发者_Python百科ct(field1) from table"

However for some records, field1 is empty and there is another column that is an alternative to field1, which is field2. For the records where field1 is empty I need to use the value of field2. I think I need sort of a conditional select statement with if control something like:

 select distinct( (if(field1!='') field1 else field2) ) from table

I have no idea on how to write it. Any help is appreciated...

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SELECT DISTINCT IFNULL(field1,field2) FROM table

should do the trick.

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SELECT DISTINCT (
 IF( coalesce(field1,'') <> '', field1, field2)
)
FROM table

This would work for both null and empty field1.

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i think i did it (not sure if the result is correct):

SELECT DISTINCT (
 IF( field1 <> '', field1, field2)
)
FROM table