Split function equivalent in T-SQL?

Question

I’m looking to split '1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15...' (comma delimited) into a table or table variable.

Does anyone have a function that returns each one in a row?

Answer 1

Try this

DECLARE @xml xml, @str varchar(100), @delimiter varchar(10)
SET @str = '1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15'
SET @delimiter = ','
SET @xml = cast(('<X>'+replace(@str, @delimiter, '</X><X>')+'</X>') as xml)
SELECT C.value('.', 'varchar(10)') as value FROM @xml.nodes('X') as X(C)

OR

DECLARE @str varchar(100), @delimiter varchar(10)
SET @str = '1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15'
SET @delimiter = ','
;WITH cte AS
(
    SELECT 0 a, 1 b
    UNION ALL
    SELECT b, CHARINDEX(@delimiter, @str, b) + LEN(@delimiter)
    FROM CTE
    WHERE b > a
)
SELECT SUBSTRING(@str, a,
CASE WHEN b > LEN(@delimiter) 
    THEN b - a - LEN(@delimiter) 
    ELSE LEN(@str) - a + 1 END) value      
FROM cte WHERE a > 0

Many more ways of doing the same is here How to split comma delimited string?

Answer 2

Here is somewhat old-fashioned solution:

/*
    Splits string into parts delimitered with specified character.
*/
CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[SDF_SplitString]
(
    @sString nvarchar(2048),
    @cDelimiter nchar(1)
)
RETURNS @tParts TABLE ( part nvarchar(2048) )
AS
BEGIN
    if @sString is null return
    declare @iStart int,
            @iPos int
    if substring( @sString, 1, 1 ) = @cDelimiter 
    begin
        set @iStart = 2
        insert into @tParts
        values( null )
    end
    else 
        set @iStart = 1
    while 1=1
    begin
        set @iPos = charindex( @cDelimiter, @sString, @iStart )
        if @iPos = 0
            set @iPos = len( @sString )+1
        if @iPos - @iStart > 0          
            insert into @tParts
            values  ( substring( @sString, @iStart, @iPos-@iStart ))
        else
            insert into @tParts
            values( null )
        set @iStart = @iPos+1
        if @iStart > len( @sString ) 
            break
    end
    RETURN

END

In SQL Server 2008 you can achieve the same with .NET code. Maybe it would work faster, but definitely this approach is easier to manage.

Answer 3

You've tagged this SQL Server 2008 but future visitors to this question (using SQL Server 2016+) will likely want to know about STRING_SPLIT.

With this new builtin function you can now just use

SELECT TRY_CAST(value AS INT)
FROM   STRING_SPLIT ('1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15', ',') 

Some restrictions of this function and some promising results of performance testing are in this blog post by Aaron Bertrand.

Answer 4

This is most like .NET, for those of you who are familiar with that function:

CREATE FUNCTION dbo.[String.Split]
(
    @Text VARCHAR(MAX),
    @Delimiter VARCHAR(100),
    @Index INT
)
RETURNS VARCHAR(MAX)
AS BEGIN
    DECLARE @A TABLE (ID INT IDENTITY, V VARCHAR(MAX));
    DECLARE @R VARCHAR(MAX);
    WITH CTE AS
    (
    SELECT 0 A, 1 B
    UNION ALL
    SELECT B, CONVERT(INT,CHARINDEX(@Delimiter, @Text, B) + LEN(@Delimiter))
    FROM CTE
    WHERE B > A
    )
    INSERT @A(V)
    SELECT SUBSTRING(@Text,A,CASE WHEN B > LEN(@Delimiter) THEN B-A-LEN(@Delimiter) ELSE LEN(@Text) - A + 1 END) VALUE      
    FROM CTE WHERE A >0

    SELECT      @R
    =           V
    FROM        @A
    WHERE       ID = @Index + 1
    RETURN      @R
END

SELECT dbo.[String.Split]('121,2,3,0',',',1) -- gives '2'

Answer 5

here is the split function that u asked

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[split](
          @delimited NVARCHAR(MAX),
          @delimiter NVARCHAR(100)
        ) RETURNS @t TABLE (id INT IDENTITY(1,1), val NVARCHAR(MAX))
        AS
        BEGIN
          DECLARE @xml XML
          SET @xml = N'<t>' + REPLACE(@delimited,@delimiter,'</t><t>') + '</t>'

          INSERT INTO @t(val)
          SELECT  r.value('.','varchar(MAX)') as item
          FROM  @xml.nodes('/t') as records(r)
          RETURN
        END

execute the function like this

select * from dbo.split('1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15',',')

Answer 6

DECLARE
    @InputString NVARCHAR(MAX) = 'token1,token2,token3,token4,token5'
    , @delimiter varchar(10) = ','

DECLARE @xml AS XML = CAST(('<X>'+REPLACE(@InputString,@delimiter ,'</X><X>')+'</X>') AS XML)
SELECT C.value('.', 'varchar(10)') AS value
FROM @xml.nodes('X') as X(C)

Source of this response: http://sqlhint.com/sqlserver/how-to/best-split-function-tsql-delimited

Answer 7

I am tempted to squeeze in my favourite solution. The resulting table will consist of 2 columns: PosIdx for position of the found integer; and Value in integer.

create function FnSplitToTableInt
(
    @param nvarchar(4000)
)
returns table as
return
    with Numbers(Number) as 
    (
        select 1 
        union all 
        select Number + 1 from Numbers where Number < 4000
    ),
    Found as
    (
        select 
            Number as PosIdx,
            convert(int, ltrim(rtrim(convert(nvarchar(4000), 
                substring(@param, Number, 
                charindex(N',' collate Latin1_General_BIN, 
                @param + N',', Number) - Number))))) as Value
        from   
            Numbers 
        where  
            Number <= len(@param)
        and substring(N',' + @param, Number, 1) = N',' collate Latin1_General_BIN
    )
    select 
        PosIdx, 
        case when isnumeric(Value) = 1 
            then convert(int, Value) 
            else convert(int, null) end as Value 
    from 
        Found

It works by using recursive CTE as the list of positions, from 1 to 100 by default. If you need to work with string longer than 100, simply call this function using 'option (maxrecursion 4000)' like the following:

select * from FnSplitToTableInt
(
    '9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, ' + 
    '9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, ' +
    '9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, ' +
    '9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, ' +
    '9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0'
) 
option (maxrecursion 4000)

Answer 8

CREATE FUNCTION Split
(
  @delimited nvarchar(max),
  @delimiter nvarchar(100)
) RETURNS @t TABLE
(
-- Id column can be commented out, not required for sql splitting string
  id int identity(1,1), -- I use this column for numbering splitted parts
  val nvarchar(max)
)
AS
BEGIN
  declare @xml xml
  set @xml = N'<root><r>' + replace(@delimited,@delimiter,'</r><r>') + '</r></root>'

  insert into @t(val)
  select
    r.value('.','varchar(max)') as item
  from @xml.nodes('//root/r') as records(r)

  RETURN
END
GO

usage

Select * from dbo.Split(N'1,2,3,4,6',',')

Answer 9

This simple CTE will give what's needed:

DECLARE @csv varchar(max) = '1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15';
--append comma to the list for CTE to work correctly
SET @csv = @csv + ',';
--remove double commas (empty entries)
SET @csv = replace(@csv, ',,', ',');
WITH CteCsv AS (
    SELECT CHARINDEX(',', @csv) idx, SUBSTRING(@csv, 1, CHARINDEX(',', @csv) - 1) [Value]
    UNION ALL
    SELECT CHARINDEX(',', @csv, idx + 1), SUBSTRING(@csv, idx + 1, CHARINDEX(',', @csv, idx + 1) - idx - 1) FROM CteCsv
    WHERE CHARINDEX(',', @csv, idx + 1) > 0
)

SELECT [Value] FROM CteCsv

Answer 10

This is another version which really does not have any restrictions (e.g.: special chars when using xml approach, number of records in CTE approach) and it runs much faster based on a test on 10M+ records with source string average length of 4000. Hope this could help.

Create function [dbo].[udf_split] (
    @ListString nvarchar(max),
    @Delimiter  nvarchar(1000),
    @IncludeEmpty bit) 
Returns @ListTable TABLE (ID int, ListValue nvarchar(1000))
AS
BEGIN
    Declare @CurrentPosition int, @NextPosition int, @Item nvarchar(max), @ID int, @L int
    Select @ID = 1,
   @L = len(replace(@Delimiter,' ','^')),
            @ListString = @ListString + @Delimiter,
            @CurrentPosition = 1 
    Select @NextPosition = Charindex(@Delimiter, @ListString, @CurrentPosition)
   While @NextPosition > 0 Begin
   Set  @Item = LTRIM(RTRIM(SUBSTRING(@ListString, @CurrentPosition, @NextPosition-@CurrentPosition)))
   If      @IncludeEmpty=1 or LEN(@Item)>0 Begin 
     Insert Into @ListTable (ID, ListValue) Values (@ID, @Item)
     Set @ID = @ID+1
   End
   Set  @CurrentPosition = @NextPosition+@L
   Set  @NextPosition = Charindex(@Delimiter, @ListString, @CurrentPosition)
  End
    RETURN
END

Answer 11

Using tally table here is one split string function(best possible approach) by Jeff Moden

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[DelimitedSplit8K]
        (@pString VARCHAR(8000), @pDelimiter CHAR(1))
RETURNS TABLE WITH SCHEMABINDING AS
 RETURN
--===== "Inline" CTE Driven "Tally Table" produces values from 0 up to 10,000...
     -- enough to cover NVARCHAR(4000)
  WITH E1(N) AS (
                 SELECT 1 UNION ALL SELECT 1 UNION ALL SELECT 1 UNION ALL 
                 SELECT 1 UNION ALL SELECT 1 UNION ALL SELECT 1 UNION ALL 
                 SELECT 1 UNION ALL SELECT 1 UNION ALL SELECT 1 UNION ALL SELECT 1
                ),                          --10E+1 or 10 rows
       E2(N) AS (SELECT 1 FROM E1 a, E1 b), --10E+2 or 100 rows
       E4(N) AS (SELECT 1 FROM E2 a, E2 b), --10E+4 or 10,000 rows max
 cteTally(N) AS (--==== This provides the "base" CTE and limits the number of rows right up front
                     -- for both a performance gain and prevention of accidental "overruns"
                 SELECT TOP (ISNULL(DATALENGTH(@pString),0)) ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY (SELECT NULL)) FROM E4
                ),
cteStart(N1) AS (--==== This returns N+1 (starting position of each "element" just once for each delimiter)
                 SELECT 1 UNION ALL
                 SELECT t.N+1 FROM cteTally t WHERE SUBSTRING(@pString,t.N,1) = @pDelimiter
                ),
cteLen(N1,L1) AS(--==== Return start and length (for use in substring)
                 SELECT s.N1,
                        ISNULL(NULLIF(CHARINDEX(@pDelimiter,@pString,s.N1),0)-s.N1,8000)
                   FROM cteStart s
                )
--===== Do the actual split. The ISNULL/NULLIF combo handles the length for the final element when no delimiter is found.
 SELECT ItemNumber = ROW_NUMBER() OVER(ORDER BY l.N1),
        Item       = SUBSTRING(@pString, l.N1, l.L1)
   FROM cteLen l
;

Referred from Tally OH! An Improved SQL 8K “CSV Splitter” Function

Answer 12

This blog came with a pretty good solution using XML in T-SQL.

This is the function I came up with based on that blog (change function name and result type cast per need):

SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO
SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO
CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[SplitIntoBigints]
(@List varchar(MAX), @Splitter char)
RETURNS TABLE 
AS
RETURN 
(
    WITH SplittedXML AS(
        SELECT CAST('<v>' + REPLACE(@List, @Splitter, '</v><v>') + '</v>' AS XML) AS Splitted
    )
    SELECT x.v.value('.', 'bigint') AS Value
    FROM SplittedXML
    CROSS APPLY Splitted.nodes('//v') x(v)
)
GO

Answer 13

CREATE Function [dbo].[CsvToInt] ( @Array varchar(4000)) 
returns @IntTable table 
(IntValue int)
AS
begin
declare @separator char(1)
set @separator = ','
declare @separator_position int 
declare @array_value varchar(4000) 

set @array = @array + ','

while patindex('%,%' , @array) <> 0 
begin

select @separator_position = patindex('%,%' , @array)
select @array_value = left(@array, @separator_position - 1)

Insert @IntTable
Values (Cast(@array_value as int))
select @array = stuff(@array, 1, @separator_position, '')
end

Answer 14

/* *Object:  UserDefinedFunction [dbo].[Split]    Script Date: 10/04/2013 18:18:38* */
SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO
SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO
ALTER FUNCTION [dbo].[Split]
(@List varchar(8000),@SplitOn Nvarchar(5))
RETURNS @RtnValue table
(Id int identity(1,1),Value nvarchar(100))
AS
BEGIN
    Set @List = Replace(@List,'''','')
    While (Charindex(@SplitOn,@List)>0)
    Begin

    Insert Into @RtnValue (value)
    Select
    Value = ltrim(rtrim(Substring(@List,1,Charindex(@SplitOn,@List)-1)))

    Set @List = Substring(@List,Charindex(@SplitOn,@List)+len(@SplitOn),len(@List))
    End

    Insert Into @RtnValue (Value)
    Select Value = ltrim(rtrim(@List))

    Return
END
go

Select *
From [Clv].[Split] ('1,2,3,3,3,3,',',')
GO

Answer 15

This works great for me https://www.sqlshack.com/the-string-split-function-in-sql-server/

After two hours of resarching this topic this is the simplest solution (without using XML ect.).

You should only remember to use string_split after from.

DROP TABLE IF EXISTS #Countries
GO
DROP TABLE IF EXISTS #CityList
GO
CREATE TABLE #Countries
(Continent VARCHAR(100),
Country VARCHAR(100))
GO
CREATE TABLE #CityList
(Country VARCHAR(100),
City VARCHAR(5000))
GO
INSERT INTO  #Countries
VALUES('Europe','France'),('Europe','Germany') 
 
INSERT INTO #CityList
VALUES('France','Paris,Marsilya,Lyon,Lille,Nice'), ('Germany','Berlin,Hamburg,Munih,Frankfurt,Koln')
 
SELECT 
CN.Continent,CN.Country,value
FROM #CityList CL CROSS APPLY string_split(CL.City,',')  INNER JOIN 
#Countries CN ON  CL.Country = CN.Country
 
 
DROP TABLE IF EXISTS #Countries
GO
DROP TABLE IF EXISTS #CityList

Answer 16

You write this function in sql server after that problem will be solved.

http://csharpdotnetsol.blogspot.in/2013/12/csv-function-in-sql-server-for-divide.html