Question

Take a simple table like below:

Column Headings: || Agent's Name || Time Logged In || Center ||  
Row 1: Andrew  || 12:30 PM || Home Base  
Row 2: Jeff || 7:00 AM || Virtual Base  
Row 3: Ryan || 6:30 PM || Test Base

Now lets say that a single cell is deleted so the table now looks like this:

Column Headings: || Agent's Name || Time Logged In || Center ||  
Row 1: Andrew  || 12:30 PM ||   
Row 2: Jeff || 7:00 AM || Virtual Base  
Row 3: Ryan || 6:30 PM || Test Base

Notice that “Home Base” is missing. Now in excel you can delete the cell and shift the rest so the finished product looks like below:

Column Headings: || Agent's Name || Time Logged In || Center ||  
Row 1: Andrew  || 12:30 PM || Virtual Base   
Row 2: Jeff || 7:00 AM || Test Base  
Row 3: Ryan || 6:30 PM || 

And you can see we are left with a blank cell last row.

How do I code this procedure of shifting the cells up in SQL?

I’ve been struggling on this problem for weeks! Thank you!

Answer 1

One of many options is to use an outer apply to fetch the Center from the next row:

declare @t table (name varchar(50), login time, center varchar(50))

insert into @t (name, login, center)
select 'Andrew', '12:30 PM', 'Home Base'
union all select 'Jeff', '7:00 AM', 'Virtual Base'
union all select 'Ryan', '6:30 PM', 'Test Base'

update t1
set t1.center = t3.center
from @t t1
outer apply (
    select top 1 t2.center
    from @t t2
    where t2.name > t1.name
    order by t2.name
) t3

select * from @t

You do have to specify an ordering (the example orders on name.)