need splitting a variable into 6 variables - SQL - sql

Question

need help filling in the blanks i am struggling with splitting a variable into 6 variables.
DECLARE #item VARCHAR(MAX) = 'MG1111.TG2222.MW3333.JG4444.MG5555.MH6666'
DECLARE #item1 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #item2 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #item3 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #item4 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #item5 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #item6 VARCHAR(MAX)
set #item1 = (SUBSTRING( #item, 0, CHARINDEX('.', #item)))
set #item2 = (SUBSTRING(SUBSTRING( #item, CHARINDEX('.', #item)+1,LEN(#ITEM)),0,CHARINDEX('.', SUBSTRING( #item, CHARINDEX('.', #item)+1,LEN(#ITEM))) ))
set #item6 = (REVERSE(SUBSTRING( REVERSE(#ITEM), 0, CHARINDEX('.' , REVERSE(#ITEM)))))
print #item1
print #item2
print #item3
print #item4
print #item5
print #item6

Answer 1

Just about any String Parser will do. That said, I have one that will return (currently) up to 9 variables
Select #item1=Pos1
,#item2=Pos2
,#item3=Pos3
,#item4=Pos4
,#item5=Pos5
,#item6=Pos6
From [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse-Row](#Item,'.')
The UDF
CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse-Row] (#String varchar(max),#Delimeter varchar(10))
--Usage: Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse-Row]('Dog,Cat,House,Car',',')
-- Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse-Row]('John Cappelletti',' ')
-- Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse-Row]('id26,id46|id658,id967','|')
Returns Table
As
Return (
SELECT Pos1 = xDim.value('/x[1]','varchar(250)')
,Pos2 = xDim.value('/x[2]','varchar(250)')
,Pos3 = xDim.value('/x[3]','varchar(250)')
,Pos4 = xDim.value('/x[4]','varchar(250)')
,Pos5 = xDim.value('/x[5]','varchar(250)')
,Pos6 = xDim.value('/x[6]','varchar(250)')
,Pos7 = xDim.value('/x[7]','varchar(250)')
,Pos8 = xDim.value('/x[8]','varchar(250)')
,Pos9 = xDim.value('/x[9]','varchar(250)')
FROM (Select Cast('<x>' + Replace(#String,#Delimeter,'</x><x>')+'</x>' as XML) as xDim) A
)

Answer 2

Here is a simpler way using XML trick
DECLARE #item VARCHAR(max) = 'MG1111.TG2222.MW3333.JG4444.MG5555.MH6666'
DECLARE #item1 VARCHAR(max)
DECLARE #item2 VARCHAR(max)
DECLARE #item3 VARCHAR(max)
DECLARE #item4 VARCHAR(max)
DECLARE #item5 VARCHAR(max)
DECLARE #item6 VARCHAR(max);
WITH split_names
AS (SELECT CONVERT(XML, '<Names><name>' + Replace(#item, '.', '</name><name>') + '</name></Names>') AS xmlname)
SELECT #item1 = xmlname.value('/Names[1]/name[1]', 'varchar(50)'),
#item2 = xmlname.value('/Names[1]/name[2]', 'varchar(50)'),
#item3 = xmlname.value('/Names[1]/name[3]', 'varchar(50)'),
#item4 = xmlname.value('/Names[1]/name[4]', 'varchar(50)'),
#item5 = xmlname.value('/Names[1]/name[5]', 'varchar(50)'),
#item6 = xmlname.value('/Names[1]/name[6]', 'varchar(50)')
FROM split_names

Answer 3

Why not use this pattern?
set #item1 = SUBSTRING_INDEX( #item, '.', 1)
.
set #item3 = SUBSTRING_INDEX( SUBSTRING_INDEX( #item, '.', 2), '.', 1)
.
.
set #item6 = SUBSTRING_INDEX( #item, '.', -1)
I am assuming by 6 variables you mean each substring between the dots in #item is a separate "variable".

Answer 4

A more generic parser could be as follows. This one returns a row number and is not limited as to depth.
DECLARE #item VARCHAR(MAX) = 'MG1111.TG2222.MW3333.JG4444.MG5555.MH6666'
DECLARE #item1 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #item2 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #item3 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #item4 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #item5 VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE #item6 VARCHAR(MAX)
Select #item1=max(case when Key_PS=1 then Key_Value else '' end)
,#item2=max(case when Key_PS=2 then Key_Value else '' end)
,#item3=max(case when Key_PS=3 then Key_Value else '' end)
,#item4=max(case when Key_PS=4 then Key_Value else '' end)
,#item5=max(case when Key_PS=5 then Key_Value else '' end)
,#item6=max(case when Key_PS=6 then Key_Value else '' end)
From [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse](#Item,'.')
The UDF
CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse] (#String varchar(max),#Delimeter varchar(10))
--Usage: Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse]('Dog,Cat,House,Car',',')
-- Select * from [dbo].[udf-Str-Parse]('John Cappelletti was here',' ')
Returns #ReturnTable Table (Key_PS int IDENTITY(1,1), Key_Value varchar(max))
As
Begin
Declare #XML xml;Set #XML = Cast('<x>' + Replace(#String,#Delimeter,'</x><x>')+'</x>' as XML)
Insert Into #ReturnTable Select ltrim(rtrim(String.value('.', 'varchar(max)'))) FROM #XML.nodes('x') as T(String)
Return
End