Ah... sorry.  Like I said, I used the "Quirky Update" method, which allows variables to interplay with columns as each row passes,...

@dolfandave ,

It sounds like the dynamic technique of using a CROSSTAB would fit the bill here.  Have a look at the following article as an introduction and let me know...

It would save 2/3rds of the memory required if it could be a...

Heh... Edge.  Take a look at Task Manager when that puppy is open with even just 1 window.

Damn forum software ate my response due to paging... hopefully, this post will make it appear.

Yep... that did the trick.

It would save 2/3rds of the memory required if it could be a numeric 0,...

• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by Jeff Moden. Reason: Corrected the savings estimates

Sorry, you're right.

This is what the "base table" I have looks like.

There will be over 2 million IDs and each ID will have the same exact...

😀  I'm just curious why the customer says they need this?  This could be done...

It does work as the trailing space is ignored. That being said, I'll edit the question as no one should be confused by this. I'll also look to PR...

BTW... the documentation for the subject of "trailing blanks" NOT being included in comparisons is a bit difficult to find.  You would think that MS would have included...

Most probably but I couldn't resist the temptation to rant about the cloud a bit myself. 😉

To be honest, I'd tell...

Rant understood and much appreciated.  The cloud has many advantages but I still refer to it as "Smoke'n'Mirrors" for this very reason.  There's also a huge chance that scaling out...

Just for fun, -40 degrees is where the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales cross.

BTW... the documentation for the subject of "trailing blanks" NOT being included in comparisons is a bit difficult to find.  You would think that MS would have included it in...