Question

I have a database in SQL Server with its data. I need change a part of some columns value in some conditions.

Imagine the value as “0010020001“.
002 belongs to another value in my database and whenever I want to change it to 005, I must update the previous 10-digits code to “001005001“.

Actually, I need to update just a part of columns value using UPDATE statement. How can I do it (in this example)?

Answer 1

While everyone else is correct that if you have control of the schema you should definitely not store your data this way, this is how I would solve the issue you as you described it if I couldn’t adjust the schema.

IF OBJECT_ID('tempdb..#test') IS NOT NULL
DROP TABLE #test

create table #test
(
id int,
multivaluecolumn varchar(20)
)

insert #Test
select 1,'001002001'
UNION
select 2,'002004002'
UNION
select 3,'003006003'
GO

declare @oldmiddlevalue char(3) 
set @oldmiddlevalue= '002'
declare @newmiddlevalue char(3)
set @newmiddlevalue = '005'

select * from #Test

Update #Test set multivaluecolumn =left(multivaluecolumn,3) + @newmiddlevalue + right(multivaluecolumn,3)
where substring(multivaluecolumn,4,3) = @oldmiddlevalue


select * from #Test