pietlinden (12/12/2013)
Your table is really structured like that? What happens if you get more software packages? Does the table structure change? IF yI think storing information using this structure/pattern is bound to fail. I worked on data like this every day for six months, and it was a nightmare.
Why not use a different table design?
Server===(1,M)---InstalledSoftware---(M,1)---SoftwareVersion---(M,1)---SoftwareTitle
then you can add servers, versions, titles all you want. If you want a crosstab, use SSRS or do a PIVOT.
+1 +1 +1
My thought question: Have you ever been told that your query runs too fast?
My advice:
INDEXing a poor-performing query is like putting sugar on cat food. Yeah, it probably tastes better but are you sure you want to eat it?
The path of least resistance can be a slippery slope. Take care that fixing your fixes of fixes doesn't snowball and end up costing you more than fixing the root cause would have in the first place.
Need to UNPIVOT? Why not CROSS APPLY VALUES instead?[/url]
Since random numbers are too important to be left to chance, let's generate some![/url]
Learn to understand recursive CTEs by example.[/url]
[url url=http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/St