We're all in this together and I'm pullin' for ya" --Red Green

And, thanks for the feedback, Robert... that's what this is all about.

Thanks, Commando... I appreciate the feedback...

Yep... if you try to execute the whole thing... it's a single "batch".  During "compile" time, the whole thing is evaluated and since the column doesn't actually exist, yet, the...

If you don't already have one... now is the time to make a "Tally" table... Here's how...

--===== Create and populate the Tally table on the fly

 SELECT TOP 11000...

Or... Use OSQL with the -h-1 option.  Don't forget to set the -s option to a tab... you can't do THAT from the command prompt... you will need to make...

Not sure Michael is set on this... FULL joins return all rows from both tables 1 time, Cross joins will produce either a partial or full cartesian join (ex. if...

Bingo!... Nice job, CK...

Matti and John... you guys are "spot on" about temp tables.  John, I absolutely agree... lot's of times, a good set based solution will require NO temporal structure whatsoever.

Correct... large table variables are NOT converted to temp tables...

I strongly recommend AGAINST using table variables for anything more than a dozen or so rows because they cannot be...

I strongly recommend AGAINST using table variables for anything more than a dozen or so rows because they cannot be made to use statistics... both table variables and temp tables...

Outstanding... thank you for the feedback.

Very cool, David... fast as all get out... but try this... obviously, we have to know exactly what the scale of the decimal places is to use it or we...

>>But there are cases where a cursor is necessary.

I would agree... BUT, the problem is most people don't really know where that...

It'll take me a bit to setup some test data and write an example (an I'm going to bed for the night so not happening tonight), but I'm thinking a...

John is spot on...

I'll also add that storing text columns in the database is bad for too many reasons to post here.  If you must store text that execeeds...