Jeff Moden (12/2/2016)
TheSQLGuru (12/1/2016)
SQL CLR Regex would be the way I would go honestly. IIRC someone actually already built a regular expression system for SQL Server using that.A lot of folks say that but it's been my experience in many posts that measured performance of different methods that if it can be done using T-SQL, it will beat SQLCLR REGEX. As with any experience, there are always exceptions. I'll see if I can find a couple of the threads where such testing occurred. There was one really big one that I have in mind but don't have the URL for it handy.
This is a DR/BCP weekend for me so I might not be able to get to this thread this weekend but I'll try.
Jeff - on that note: if you find it, it may be worth fully redoing the comparison using 2014 or 2016. Based on some of the recent revalidation I did for a recent thread, I am not sure the previous findings will hold (check your PMs - I sent you the details a while back).
Of course - that still doesn't get around some of the other objections (i.e. external items running within the core, secondary toolsets/skillsets etc...), but the perf answer may not be the same.
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Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part...unless you're my manager...or a director and above...or a really loud-spoken end-user..All right - what was my emergency again?