How Can master..spt_values Simplify CSV Column Splitting in SQL Server?

Using master..spt_values for Column Splitting

Purpose of master..spt_values

master..spt_values is a system table used by Microsoft SQL Server to support the execution of system procedures (sp_ procedures). It contains various lookup tables and a projection table that assist the procedures in performing tasks such as lock management, device type lookup, and data manipulation.

Type = 'P' and its Significance

One of the lookup tables in master..spt_values is Type 'P', which holds a list of consecutive numbers from 0 to 2047. This projection table is crucial for performing operations where a set of consecutive numbers is required. For instance, when splitting a CSV column into multiple rows, we need a way to iterate through the individual values.

Splitting a Column Using master..spt_values

The complex code used to split a CSV column into rows relies on the master..spt_values Type 'P' to provide a vector of numbers. This allows the code to easily step through the CSV values, determining commas and end-of-string characters to extract the data.

Benefits of Using master..spt_values

Using master..spt_values for column splitting offers several benefits:

• Reduces the need to create temporary tables or permanent lookup tables, making the code more efficient.
• Allows for the projection of data using a standard table instead of custom code.
• Provides a straightforward method for performing operations that require consecutive numbers.

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