How to compare two multiple values columns in SQLSERVER - sql

Question

I have a column that contains some value like : ;1;3;7;2;
And another column with values like : ;5;2;3;
I need to know if at least one of the number in the second column (5,2 or 3) is contained in the first column.
Of course this is an example, I have to do it for several records.
Do you have an idea ?
Here is my code :
SELECT *
FROM COMPANIES
WHERE F_SKILLS IN F_CONVENTION

Answer 1

Check This.
Using below query you can find all common numbers appeared in both columns.
First Create Function "[SplitLongString]":
create FUNCTION [dbo].[SplitLongString]
(
#DelimitedString VARCHAR(MAX),
#Delimiter VARCHAR(100)
)
RETURNS
#tblArray TABLE
(
ElementID INT IDENTITY(1,1),
Element VARCHAR(1000)
)
AS
BEGIN
DECLARE
#siIndex INT,
#siStart INT,
#siDelSize INT
SET #siDelSize = LEN(#Delimiter)
--loop through source string and add elements to destination table array
WHILE LEN(#DelimitedString) > 0
BEGIN
SET #siIndex = CHARINDEX(#Delimiter, #DelimitedString)
IF #siIndex = 0
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #tblArray VALUES(#DelimitedString)
BREAK
END
ELSE
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #tblArray VALUES(SUBSTRING(#DelimitedString, 1,#siIndex - 1))
SET #siStart = #siIndex + #siDelSize
SET #DelimitedString = SUBSTRING(#DelimitedString, #siStart , LEN(#DelimitedString) - #siStart + 1)
END
END
RETURN
END
after you can cross apply to seprate out commo or semi colon. You will get common element under column element. use these column for your further use.
select A.*,y.Element common_element--,X.Element
from #COMPANIES A
CROSS APPLY SplitLongString(F_SKILLS,';') y
CROSS APPLY SplitLongString(F_CONVENTION,';') X
where x.Element=y.Element and ( X.Element!=' ' or X.Element!= null)
Output :
let us know if you have any query.

Answer 2

You can use default function that is dbo.Split('5;2;3;',',')
if you don't have this function you can create your own
Create Function
CREATE FUNCTION SplitString
(
#Input NVARCHAR(MAX),
#Character CHAR(1)
)
RETURNS #Output TABLE (
Item NVARCHAR(1000)
)
AS
BEGIN
DECLARE #StartIndex INT, #EndIndex INT
SET #StartIndex = 1
IF SUBSTRING(#Input, LEN(#Input) - 1, LEN(#Input)) <> #Character
BEGIN
SET #Input = #Input + #Character
END
WHILE CHARINDEX(#Character, #Input) > 0
BEGIN
SET #EndIndex = CHARINDEX(#Character, #Input)
INSERT INTO #Output(Item)
SELECT SUBSTRING(#Input, #StartIndex, #EndIndex - 1)
SET #Input = SUBSTRING(#Input, #EndIndex + 1, LEN(#Input))
END
RETURN
END
GO
after creating function you can add Condition to your Query
select * from yourTableName tbl where (select * from dbo.SplitString(tbl.YourColumnWithSemicoluns,';')) in (select * from dbo.SplitString('5;2;3;',';'))

Answer 3

If you're using SQL Server 2016, check out the string_split function.
Assuming you're not, you can create a split function as per previous answer.
If this isn't an option you can do it with a CTE, but it is likely to be inefficient if you have a large dataset.
create table test(col1 varchar(100), col2 varchar(100));
insert into test values ('a;b;c', 'c;d;e'),('a;b;c','d;e;f'), ('a;b;c', 'b;a;d')
;WITH SplitSting AS
(
SELECT
col1, col2, LEFT(col1,CHARINDEX(';',col1)-1) AS value
,RIGHT(col1,LEN(col1)-CHARINDEX(';',col1)) AS remainder
FROM test
WHERE col1 IS NOT NULL AND CHARINDEX(';',col1)>0
UNION ALL
SELECT
col1, col2,LEFT(remainder,CHARINDEX(';',remainder)-1)
,RIGHT(remainder,LEN(remainder)-CHARINDEX(';',remainder))
FROM SplitSting
WHERE remainder IS NOT NULL AND CHARINDEX(';',remainder)>0
UNION ALL
SELECT
col1, col2,remainder,null
FROM SplitSting
WHERE remainder IS NOT NULL AND CHARINDEX(';',remainder)=0
)
SELECT distinct col1, col2 FROM SplitSting
where ';'+col2+';' like '%;'+value+';%'

Answer 4

If it's a finite set of just a few numbers, you might be able to get away with something as simple as:
SELECT * FROM companies
WHERE (f_skills LIKE '%;1;%' AND f_convention LIKE '%;1;%')
OR (f_skills LIKE '%;2;%' AND f_convention LIKE '%;2;%')
OR (f_skills LIKE '%;3;%' AND f_convention LIKE '%;3;%')
...
If that doesn't work... Well, looks like some of the other answers on the page may be bit more comprehensive... Almost embarrassingly so. Although, if the numbers are really just 1-9 like the question suggests, I stand by my answer. :) I know it looks a little pitiful in comparison, but, seriously, it just might work! If not, I'd start with the one from Mr. Bhosale.