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How to use substring to split a string value

I have a string value, that I want to separate into 6 strings. The delimiter is _. So for this string, the six values would be: How would I go about splitting the string in SQL Server 2008?

TAMPA, FL_VASTEC__ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING_508_FIRST

TAMPA, FL
VASTEC
null
ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING
508
FIRST

kaminda

You can use the below function. Call it by passing the string value and the delimiter. It will return a table with splitted values as rows.

CREATE FUNCTION dbo.Split
(
	@RowData nvarchar(2000),
	@SplitOn nvarchar(5)
)  
RETURNS @RtnValue table 
(
	Id int identity(1,1),
	Data nvarchar(100)
) 
AS  
BEGIN 
	Declare @Cnt int
	Set @Cnt = 1

	While (Charindex(@SplitOn,@RowData)>0)
	Begin
		Insert Into @RtnValue (data)
		Select 
			Data = ltrim(rtrim(Substring(@RowData,1,Charindex(@SplitOn,@RowData)-1)))

		Set @RowData = Substring(@RowData,Charindex(@SplitOn,@RowData)+1,len(@RowData))
		Set @Cnt = @Cnt + 1
	End
	
	Insert Into @RtnValue (data)
	Select Data = ltrim(rtrim(@RowData))

	Return
END

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Guy Hengel [angelIII / a3]

it depends a bit what you want to do with the values ...
I also wrote an article about this kind of thing: https://www.experts-exchange.com/A_1536.html

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RGBDart

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jjliu4492

ASKER

I am trying to split up the field, and save the split values into a new table. Can I do this without using a function, and just use substring?

Guy Hengel [angelIII / a3]

>Can I do this without using a function, and just use substring?
not really. technically yes, but you will multiply the instr() and substring functions...

jjliu4492

ASKER

select * from dbo.fnSplit('TAMPA, FL_VASTEC__ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING_508_FIRST', '_')

Can I have it display as one row, with each field as a column?

SOLUTION

Guy Hengel [angelIII / a3]

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jjliu4492

ASKER

If I use fnSplit, my result set is:

How can I get a specific row value? For example, I need to insert "VASTEC" into a column in my database.

item
TAMPA, FL
VASTEC
NULL
ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING
508
FIRST

Guy Hengel [angelIII / a3]

please see my comment above.

jjliu4492

ASKER

What is your code for dbo.ParmsToList?

Guy Hengel [angelIII / a3]

it's in the article I linked above