Split data element based on delimiter - sql

Question

I have a database called Property with a table called Location. The data looks like this:
RecordID Location
-----------------------
1 1/21/s15
2 8/1/21c59
3 1//
4 9//72
I have a script that reads records from the table and inserts them into a second table called ExpandedLocation.
This is the code of my script:
INSERT INTO [Property].[dbo].[ExpandedLocation] (LocationA, LocationB, LocationC)
SELECT
dbo.fnBuildABC(Location, 1),
dbo.fnBuildABC(Location, 2),
dbo.fnBuildABC(Location, 3)
FROM
[Property].[dbo].[Location]
This code should call the function fnBuildABC and pass it 2 parameters, Location and a number. The function should take in the parameters and split the first parameter on the slash and return either the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd portion of the passed string.
So, for example, on the first read of the Location table, I pick up the value 1/21/s15.
The function should return the following:
Parameter Value Returned Value
---------------------------------
Location, 1 1
Location, 2 21
Location, 3 s15
On the second read of the Location table, I pick up the value 8/1/21c59. The function should return the following:
Parameter Value Returned Value
-----------------------------------
Location, 1 8
Location, 2 1
Location, 3 21c59
I'm at a loss as to how to split the passed string in the function without actually inspecting each character of the string one at a time.
Any suggestions on how to start this process would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

I would build a function that splits your string and returns 3 columns as a table.
With just 3 columns you can comfortably do that with a combination of SQL Server's string functions.
An example of a function would be:
create or alter function fnBuildABC(#location varchar(10))
returns table
as
return
select
Left(location, p1.v - 1) A,
Substring(location, p1.v + 1, p2.v - p1.v - 1) B,
Stuff(location, 1, p2.v, '') C
from (select location = #Location)l
cross apply(values(CharIndex('/', location)))p1(v)
cross apply(values(CharIndex('/', location, p1.v + 1)))p2(v);
And then you can use it with your Location table:
insert into Property.dbo.ExpandedLocation (LocationA, LocationB, LocationC)
select A, B, C
from dbo.Location
cross apply fnBuildABC(Location);
Example DB<>Fiddle
Output:

Answer 2

You may try using XML method as the following:
CREATE FUNCTION fnBuildABC( #loc VARCHAR(MAX))
RETURNS #splitted TABLE
(
[Parameter Value] INT,
[Returned Value] VARCHAR(50)
)
AS
BEGIN
DECLARE #xml xml;
SET #xml = N'<root><p>' + replace(#loc, '/','</p><p>') + '</p></root>';
INSERT INTO #splitted
SELECT ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY l_pos) AS pos,
l_pos.value('.', 'VARCHAR(50)') AS val
FROM
#xml.nodes('//root/p') AS Portions(l_pos)
RETURN;
END;
To get all portions of a location call the function as the following:
SELECT CONCAT('Location: ', [Parameter Value]) AS [Parameter Value], [Returned Value]
FROM
(
SELECT L.RecordID, P.* FROM ExpandedLocation L
OUTER APPLY
fnBuildABC(Location) P
) T
WHERE RecordID = 1;
To get specific portions, i.e. 1 & 2:
SELECT CONCAT('Location: ', [Parameter Value]) AS [Parameter Value], [Returned Value]
FROM
(
SELECT L.RecordID, P.* FROM ExpandedLocation L
OUTER APPLY
fnBuildABC(Location) P
) T
WHERE RecordID = 1 AND [Parameter Value] IN (1,2);
See demo.

Answer 3

SQL Server has a built in STRING_SPLIT function that you can probably use. It returns a table of split values.
SELECT value FROM STRING_SPLIT('1/21/s15', '/')
Example output:
Value
1
21
s15