I'm assuming that you've already imported the data into a staging or other table. If you're also having problems with the import, we need to know what is being used for the delimiter between the two "columns" is in the file.

In the meantime, here's a test table. Details are in the comments.

--===== This would simulate the table that you have the data in.

-- I'm assuming that you've imported "the file" into such a table.

-- If you need help with the actual import, we'll need more info about the file.

-- I've simulated 4 rows but this will quickly work for many, many rows.

-- This is also the wy you should have posted your data so people can test

-- their solutions for you. See the first link in my signature line below

-- for more information on that.

SELECT d.ArticleID, d.ArticleCategories

INTO #YourTable

FROM

(

SELECT 5,'1,4,6,7' UNION ALL

SELECT 6,'8,3,2' UNION ALL

SELECT 10,'9,2,1,5,2' UNION ALL

SELECT 1,'4'

) d (ArticleID,ArticleCategories)

;

--===== This just shows what the table above looks like.

SELECT * FROM #Yourtable

;

The solution for this problem is wicked easy if you have a decent, fast splitter. The following code will produce the output you've asked for for all rows. You can store the output in a table or use it as a CTE to join to.

--===== The solution for this is quite easy with the help

-- of a decent "splitter" function

SELECT yt.ArticleID, ArticleCategory = split.Item

FROM #YourTable yt

CROSS APPLY dbo.DelimitedSplit8K(ArticleCategories,',') split

;

That's produces the following output from the given data... just like you wanted.

ArticleID ArticleCategory

----------- ---------------

5 1

5 4

5 6

5 7

6 8

6 3

6 2

10 9

10 2

10 1

10 5

10 2

1 4

(13 row(s) affected)

You can get the DelimitedSplit8K function from "RESOURCES" links at the end of the following article...

http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Tally+Table/72993/