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I have field id_list='1234,23,56,576,1231,567,122,87876,57553,1216'

and I want to use it to search IN this field:

SELECT * 
FROM table1
WHERE id IN (id_list)

  • id is integer

  • id_list is varchar/text

But in this way this doesn't work, so I need in some way to split id_list into select query.

What solution should I use here? I'm using the T-SQL Sybase ASA 9 database (SQL Anywhere). But in this way this doesn't work, so I need in some way to split id_list into select query.

Way I see this, is to create own function with while loop through, and each element extract based on split by delimiter position search, then insert elements into temp table which function will return as result.

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The problem you are having is because your design is wrong. Don't store comma delimited lists in a database. This violates first normal form. You need a junction table with a row for each table1_id, other_id combination. –  Martin Smith Oct 12 at 13:14
 
@JonSeigel - Does Sybase have TVFs and is the syntax the same? They were added to the product after the code base split AFAIK. –  Martin Smith Oct 12 at 15:07
 
@Martin: Oops. Didn't notice the [sybase] tag. I have no idea; my close vote may be inappropriate. Maybe some of the techniques presented in there will apply? –  Jon Seigel Oct 12 at 15:11
 
@JonSeigel - A google indicates that there is something built in SELECT row_value as testRecord FROM sa_split_list('A,B,C'); but I have no idea if Sybase has CROSS APPLY or something to use this against a column. –  Martin Smith Oct 12 at 15:19

marked as duplicate by Jon Seigel, RolandoMySQLDBA, Max Vernon, Kin, billinkc 18 hours ago

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

1 Answer

up vote 2 down vote

I don't actually have a sybase system to test with, but according to http://dcx.sybase.com/1200/en/dbreference/sa-split-list-sysproc.html the following solution should work:

SELECT * 
  FROM table AS T
  JOIN sa_split_list('1234,23,56,576,1231,567,122,87876,57553,1216') AS L
    ON T.id = L.row_value;

If the id_list is actually stored in another table (say list_table) you need to also use a CROSS APPLY operator (http://dcx.sybase.com/1101/en/dbusage_en11/apply-joins-joinsasp.html):

SELECT *
  FROM list_table AS LT
 CROSS APPLY sa_split_list(LT.id_list) L
  JOIN table T
    ON T.id = L.row_value
   AND <optional: some other condition that ties rows in list_table to rows in table, like a group membership or location>

This all requires that only numbers are part of these list as the split pieces will be automatically cast to the datatype of the id column. If that is not the case you can use this simpler, but slower technique:

SELECT *
  FROM table
 WHERE ','+@id_list+',' LIKE '%,'+CAST(id AS VARCHAR(20))+',%'

That last example assumed that the id list is in a variable @id_list. if it is in another table you can use the same CROSS APPLY technique from above. The additional commata make sure that the first or last entry can be matched.

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