SQL Server : Split string to row - tsql

Question

How to turn data from below:
CODE COMBINATION USER
1111.111.11.0 KEN; JIMMY
666.778.0.99 KEN
888.66.77.99 LIM(JIM); JIMMY
To
CODE COMBINATION USER
1111.111.11.0 KEN
1111.111.11.0 JIMMY
666.778.0.99 KEN
888.66.77.99 LIM(JIM)
888.66.77.99 JIMMY
I know in SQL Server 2016 this can be done by split string function, but my production is SQL Server 2014.

Answer 1

With this TVF, you can supply the string to be split and delimiter. Furthermore, you get the sequence number which can be very useful for secondary processing.
Select [CODE COMBINATION]
,[USER] = B.RetVal
From YourTable A
Cross Apply [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse](A.[USER],';') B
Returns
The Parse UDF
CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse] (#String varchar(max),#Delimiter varchar(10))
Returns Table
As
Return (
Select RetSeq = Row_Number() over (Order By (Select null))
,RetVal = LTrim(RTrim(B.i.value('(./text())[1]', 'varchar(max)')))
From (Select x = Cast('<x>'+ Replace(#String,#Delimiter,'</x><x>')+'</x>' as xml).query('.')) as A
Cross Apply x.nodes('x') AS B(i)
);
--Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse]('Dog,Cat,House,Car',',')
--Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse]('John Cappelletti was here',' ')
Now, another option is the Parse-Row UDF. Notice we return the parsed string in one row. Currently 9 positions, but it is easy to expand or contract.
Select [CODE COMBINATION]
,B.*
From YourTable A
Cross Apply [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse-Row](A.[USER],';') B
Returns
The Parse Row UDF
CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse-Row] (#String varchar(max),#Delimiter varchar(10))
Returns Table
As
Return (
Select Pos1 = xDim.value('/x[1]','varchar(max)')
,Pos2 = xDim.value('/x[2]','varchar(max)')
,Pos3 = xDim.value('/x[3]','varchar(max)')
,Pos4 = xDim.value('/x[4]','varchar(max)')
,Pos5 = xDim.value('/x[5]','varchar(max)')
,Pos6 = xDim.value('/x[6]','varchar(max)')
,Pos7 = xDim.value('/x[7]','varchar(max)')
,Pos8 = xDim.value('/x[8]','varchar(max)')
,Pos9 = xDim.value('/x[9]','varchar(max)')
From (Select Cast('<x>' + Replace(#String,#Delimiter,'</x><x>')+'</x>' as XML) as xDim) A
)
--Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse-Row]('Dog,Cat,House,Car',',')
--Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse-Row]('John Cappelletti',' ')

Answer 2

You need to use a UDF for splitting it on each row
CREATE FUNCTION [DBO].[FN_SPLIT_STR_TO_COL] (#T AS VARCHAR(4000) )
RETURNS
#RESULT TABLE(VALUE VARCHAR(250))
AS
BEGIN
SET #T= #T+';'
;WITH MYCTE(START,[END]) AS(
SELECT 1 AS START,CHARINDEX(';',#T,1) AS [END]
UNION ALL
SELECT [END]+1 AS START,CHARINDEX(';',#T,[END]+1)AS [END]
FROM MYCTE WHERE [END]<LEN(#T)
)
INSERT INTO #RESULT
SELECT SUBSTRING(#T,START,[END]-START) NAME FROM MYCTE;
RETURN
END
Now query on your table by calling above function with CROSS APPLY
SELECT [CodeCombination],FN_RS.VALUE FROM TABLE1
CROSS APPLY
(SELECT * FROM [DBO].[FN_SPLIT_STR_TO_COL] (User))
AS FN_RS

Answer 3

If your [USER] column only has one semicolon you don't need a "split string" function at all; you could use CROSS APPLY like this:
-- Your Sample data
DECLARE #table TABLE (CODE_COMBINATION varchar(30), [USER] varchar(100));
INSERT #table
VALUES ('1111.111.11.0', 'KEN; JIMMY'), ('666.778.0.99', 'XKEN'),
('888.66.77.99','LIM(JIM); JIMMY');
-- Solution using only CROSS APPLY
SELECT CODE_COMBINATION, [USER] = LTRIM(s.s)
FROM #table t
CROSS APPLY (VALUES (CHARINDEX(';',t.[USER]))) d(d)
CROSS APPLY
(
SELECT SUBSTRING(t.[USER], 1, ISNULL(NULLIF(d.d,0),1001)-1)
UNION ALL
SELECT SUBSTRING(t.[USER], d.d+1, 1000)
WHERE d.d > 0
) s(s);
If you do need a pre SQL Server 2016 "split string" function I would strongly suggest using Jeff Moden's DelimitedSplit8k or Eirikur Eiriksson's DelimitedSplit8K_LEAD. Both of these will outperform an XML-based or recursice CTE "split string" function.