Question

I have declare @a varchar(100) = 'abc bcd cde def'. What I need is to select from a table where a column is like ‘abc’ or ‘bcd’ or ‘cde’ or ‘def’. I can use a split function and a while to get what I want, but somewhere I saw a smart solution using replace or something similar and I just can’t remember it.

I know I can use an xml variable, and parse it that way. However, the value is part of a large procedure, and the best way for me is to use it in string form.

I know I can solve this by building a dynamic sql query, but that is not an option in the domain I’m working in.

Answer 1

Damn, I just can remember the solution. Its a hack, a little dirty trick that do the job.

Anyways, I ll use the code bellow (Im over SQL Server 2008), is it a good idea? I prefer it over the dirty split. Is it more performatic?

declare @w varchar(100) = 'some word'
declare @f xml

set @f = '<word>' + replace(@w, ' ', '</word><word>') + '</word>'

select
    template.item.value('.', 'varchar(100)') as word
from @f.nodes('/word') template(item)