asked on

Sql Server Trimming blank spaces

Hi, I have a view which users connect via Excel.

Now I have a table used in the view where there is column named 'NAME' and it has data with spaces at the end
and in between like below :
Andrew - there is single space here right at the end of the word
John - there is double space here right at the end of the word
Gareth Jones - there is double space here in between Gareth and Jones
Thirlestane Endurance E-3120, 36m tower -- there are 3 spaces before the 36m tower

so when in my function, I need to trim these spaces in my select statement like below -
all spaces at the end of the word needs to be removed
all double and more than double spaces in between the texts should be replaced with a Single Space.

Can anyone please give me that code which I can use in my SELECT ?
Many Thanks

Haris Dulic

try like this :

select rtrim(replace(name, "  ","")) from table_name

Open in new window

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

ste5an

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

gvamsimba

ASKER

Hi Ste5an,

I don't want to display [ ] in my result. Can you do this without that ?

Thanks

gvamsimba

ASKER

Hi Haris,

Your syntax is incorrect..

Msg 1038, Level 15, State 4, Line 1
An object or column name is missing or empty. For SELECT INTO statements, verify each column has a name. For other statements, look for empty alias names. Aliases defined as "" or [] are not allowed. Change the alias to a valid name.

gvamsimba

ASKER

Hi Haris,

corrected you syntax error to select rtrim(replace(name, ' ','')) from mytable

but Gareth Jones is now becoming GarethJones which is incorrect...it should be Gareth Jones

gvamsimba

ASKER

Hi Ste5an,
I have now removed the [ ] from you code and got the result which I am expecting. can you please confirm if this will work in any space scenarios and just keep one space even if there are any number of spaces in between or the end ?

Thanks

ste5an

Nope, it won't.

Only using a UDF to remove the spaces can to this. You need a split function (Arrays and Lists in SQL Server). Then split the value at each spaces. Then you recreate the value with single space.

gvamsimba

ASKER

Hi ste5an,

is it possible for you to give that udf which can handle my scenario so that I can call that in my current udf ?

Many thanks

gvamsimba

ASKER

I achieved this by creating a function.

gvamsimba

ASKER

good