How to Parse Comma-Separated Text into Multiple Fields using MS SQL Server

use built in SQL function like

DECLARE @text      VARCHAR(MAX);
SET @text = 'Smith,John';
SELECT LEFT(@text, CHARINDEX(',', @text ) - 1) AS lastName,
      RIGHT(@text, LEN(@text) - CHARINDEX(',', @text )) AS firstName

Thanks that works but i need it to be able to split many CSV e.g 6

Rather.. thi will be dynamic, depending on how many CSV are used, also it is likely this results will need to be joined to itself.

You can simple use bulk insert to import the csv data into your tables. This will split the data for you according to the delimiter you choose.
If you want to eidt the data or joins, you can insert into temporary tables too

CREATE TABLE #NAMES 
( 
    ID INT, 
    FIRSTNAME VARCHAR(32), 
    LASTNAME VARCHAR(32)
)

BULK INSERT #NAMES 
    FROM 'c:\file.csv' 
    WITH 
    ( 
        FIRSTROW = 2,  --IF THE FIRST ROW IS COLUMN HEADERS
        FIELDTERMINATOR = ',', 
        ROWTERMINATOR = '\n' 
    )

Select allOpen in new window

Sorry mate I've been on holiday!!

I need to  SQL which is compatible with SQL 2000 - SQL 2008 so is this a reason? why I am getting:

******************************************************
Server: Msg 170, Level 15, State 1, Line 9
Line 9: Incorrect syntax near 'max'.
******************************************************

I'm new to MS SQL Server

Can i step through the code or is there a way to use a locals window ?

thanks

Also tigin44 I need the code to reference a field so am I to replace @text with  the fields name?
I will try this...