• Something like this?

    CREATE TABLE #TableA ( id INT,columnA VARCHAR(200))

    INSERT INTO #TableA

    SELECT 1,'here is my phone number 12345678. but my cell is 44444444.' UNION ALL

    SELECT 2,'987654321 is my balance' UNION ALL

    SELECT 3,'i like the number 55555555. it is cool' UNION ALL

    SELECT 4,'66666666'

    SELECT id, MIN(PATINDEX(n,columnA)) AS pos

    FROM #TableA

    CROSS APPLY

    (

    SELECT '%4444%' AS n UNION ALL

    SELECT '%123%'

    )sub

    GROUP BY id

    DROP TABLE #TableA



    Lutz
    A pessimist is an optimist with experience.

    How to get fast answers to your question[/url]
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