How to use the SQL SPLIT function? - sql-server

Question

I wish to use the SQL "split" function:
alter FUNCTION [dbo].[Split3] (#String nvarchar(1000), #Delimiter char(1))
returns #temptable TABLE (items nvarchar(1000))
as
begin
declare #idx int
declare #slice nvarchar(1000)
select #idx = 1
if len(#String)<1 or #String is null return
while #idx!= 0
begin
set #idx = charindex(#Delimiter,#String)
if #idx!=0
set #slice = left(#String,#idx - 1)
else
set #slice = #String
if(len(#slice)>0)
insert into #temptable(Items) values(#slice)
set #String = right(#String,len(#String) - #idx)
if len(#String) = 0 break
end
return
end
Select * from dbo.Split3 ((Select eqipproc from equipmast where eqcode = 'EQL0000004'),';')
ERROR
Server: Msg 170, Level 15, State 1, Line 1
Line 1: Incorrect syntax near '('.
Server: Msg 170, Level 15, State 1, Line 1
Line 1: Incorrect syntax near ','.

Answer 1

you have to pass CSV string to your split function
DECLARE #result nvarchar(max)
SET #result = ''
SELECT #result = #result + [eqipproc ] + N';'
equipmast where eqcode = 'EQL0000004'
now pass #result to your split function
Select * from dbo.Split3(#result,';')

Answer 2

Try this function
CREATE Function dbo.Str_Split(#string varchar(100),#dl varchar(2))
Returns #outputtbl Table(col varchar(5))
As
BEGIN
Declare #remainingStr varchar(100)=#string
if(CHARINDEX(#dl,#remainingStr,1) = 0)
begin
INSERT INTO #outputtbl
select #remainingStr
end
else
begin
While(CHARINDEX(#dl,#remainingStr,1) > 0)
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #outputtbl
select LEFT(#remainingStr,CHARINDEX(#dl,#remainingStr,1)-1)
SET #remainingStr=RIGHT(#remainingStr,LEN(#remainingStr)-CHARINDEX(#dl,#remainingStr,1))
end
INSERT INTO #outputtbl
select #remainingStr
END
Return
END
--select * from dbo.Str_Split('ab,cd,efg',',')

Answer 3

No matter if filtering by eqcode = 'EQL0000004' returns only one row or more than one, you can execute your [dbo].[Split3] function for each returned row by using CROSS APPLY:
select s.*
from equipmast as e
cross apply dbo.Split3(e.eqipproc , ';') as s
where e.eqcode = 'EQL0000004'
Note: the above solution with CROSS APPLY does the same like the following (which is similar to Utkarsh's answer):
declare #s nvarchar(1000)
select #s = eqipproc from equipmast where eqcode = 'EQL0000004'
select * from dbo.Split3(#s, '.')
The difference is that CROSS APPLY also works if the query returns more than one row.