sql - Get property that contains a given a value -

i wondering how better:

i using linq-to-sql retrieve data db. in db table called art, has few columns. 4 of columns called var1, var2, var3, var4 of type integer.

now question: when retrieve article need of vars equal given number. never same number twice in 4 fields in article, maybe other fields, need "limit" search 4 fields/properties.

now doing this:

public function getarticlerangeindex(article art) integer     if article.var1 = 83         return 1     elseif article.var2 = 83         return 2     elseif article.var3 = 83         return 3     elseif article.var4 = 83         return 4     else         throw new keynotfoundexception("variantnotfound")     end if end function 

is there better way? maybe @ time of retrieving data? approach looks bit "spartan" in opinion.

in example i've hard-coded number, read config-file or passed parameter, still thinking better.