DECLARE @Result TABLE (Serial nvarchar(10),Title varchar(20))
INSERT INTO @Result
SELECT '1.1','a' UNION ALL
SELECT '1.2.1','b' UNION ALL
SELECT '1.2.2','C' UNION ALL
SELECT '1.2.3.4','G' UNION ALL
SELECT '1.11','B' UNION ALL
SELECT '1.2.33.4.5','Extra row' UNION ALL
SELECT '2.3','B' UNION ALL
SELECT '2.11','B' UNION ALL
SELECT '2.2','C' UNION ALL
SELECT '1.5','E' UNION ALL
SELECT '1.3','E'
SELECT r.*
FROM @Result r
CROSS APPLY (SELECT n = CHARINDEX('.',Serial,0)) p1
CROSS APPLY (SELECT n = NULLIF(CHARINDEX('.',Serial,p1.n+1),0)) p2
CROSS APPLY (SELECT n = NULLIF(CHARINDEX('.',Serial,p2.n+1),0)) p3
CROSS APPLY (SELECT n = NULLIF(CHARINDEX('.',Serial,p3.n+1),0)) p4
CROSS APPLY (
SELECT
Elem1 = LEFT(Serial, p1.n-1),
Elem2 = SUBSTRING(Serial, p1.n+1, ISNULL(p2.n-(p1.n+1),8000)),
Elem3 = SUBSTRING(Serial, p2.n+1, ISNULL(p3.n-(p2.n+1),8000)),
Elem4 = SUBSTRING(Serial, p3.n+1, ISNULL(p4.n-(p3.n+1),8000)),
Elem5 = SUBSTRING(Serial, p4.n+1, 8000)
) x
ORDER BY CAST(x.Elem1 AS INT), CAST(x.Elem2 AS INT), CAST(x.Elem3 AS INT), CAST(x.Elem4 AS INT), CAST(x.Elem5 AS INT)
For fast, accurate and documented assistance in answering your questions, please read this article.
Understanding and using APPLY, (I) and (II) Paul White
Hidden RBAR: Triangular Joins / The "Numbers" or "Tally" Table: What it is and how it replaces a loop Jeff Moden