how to get a columns values next to each other

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SQL-Server-2005

Hi guys/girls

I am having a problem with SQL. Its kinda hard to explain but going to try

I have a query returning results as shown in the example:

name,surname,telno,result
john,joe,011,45
john,joe,011,55
john,joe,011,50
piet,pee,011,30
piet,pee,011,44
piet,pee,011,45
piet,pee,011,45

and I want to get the results like so

john,joe,011,45,55,50
piet,pee,011,40,44,45,45

The problem I am having is that the number of result per person is not always the same number, example john has 3 results , and piet has 4 results and so on.

Please note that the "," is for a new column

Can anyone assist with this please ?

Posted 29-May-11 22:40pm

Unforgiv3n

Updated 29-May-11 23:20pm

v3

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^That's Aragon 30-May-11 5:15am

Edited for grammar and better readability.

Unforgiv3n 30-May-11 5:19am

thanks

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Wayne Gaylard · Answer 1 · 2011-05-30T01:14:00

The best I think you can do is return the results as an xml string, something like this

SQL

SELECT        name, surname, STUFF
                             ((SELECT        ',' + result AS Result
                                 FROM            results AS t1
                                 WHERE        (t2.name = name) FOR XML path('')), 1, 1, '') AS Results
FROM            results AS t2
GROUP BY name, surname
ORDER BY name

.

I tested this on a table called results, so substitute your own table name.

Hope this helps

OriginalGriff · Answer 2 · 2011-05-29T23:24:00

Solution 1

AFAIK, you can't do it with variable number of columns: all the returns have the same, fixed column count.
You could return a DBNULL for empty columns though, in which case it is very similar to the MSDN example[^]

Posted 29-May-11 23:24pm

OriginalGriff

Comments

Unforgiv3n 30-May-11 5:38am

not realy wat im looking for, because the case statement wil be to big, because the column contains about 10000 different values

Sourav Sarkar-SS · Answer 3 · 2011-05-29T23:26:00

Solution 2

You can write a code to select your table values in pivot concept.
In Sql server we can write a query to convert a row to column.
you can write a pivot table query.

Posted 29-May-11 23:26pm

Sourav Sarkar-SS

Comments

Unforgiv3n 30-May-11 5:37am

is it possible for a example ? and will it work on a column with varchar

[no name] 31-May-11 6:01am

Yes,
It works with every data type present in your SQL Server.
follow the links this will help you.

1. http://www.mssqltips.com/tip.asp?tip=1019
2. http://www.sqlprof.com/blogs/sqldev/archive/2008/04/12/pivots-with-dynamic-columns-in-sql-server-2005-2008.aspx

marks this as answer this will help others to find the solutions.
happy coding!

how to get a columns values next to each other

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