'insert into' with array

Question

I'm wondering if there's a way to use 'insert into' on a list of values. I'm trying to do this:

insert into tblMyTable (Col1, Col2, Col3)
     values('value1', value2, 'value3')

So, what I'm trying to say is that value2 will be an array of strings. I'm going to put this in C# but the SQL statement is all I need really. I know I could just use a foreach and loop through my array but I figured there might be a better way sort of like the SELECT statement here: SQL SELECT * FROM XXX WHERE columnName in Array. It seems like a single query would be much more efficient than one at a time.

I'm using SQL Server 2008 R2. Thanks fellas!

Answer 1

You can use this type of insert statement

insert into tblMyTable (Col1, Col2, Col3)
select 'value1', value, 'value3'
from dbo.values2table('abc,def,ghi,jkl',',',-1) V

The 'value', 'value3' and 'abc,def,ghi,jkl' are the 3 varchar parameters you need to set in C# SQLCommand.

This is the supporting function required.

CREATE function dbo.values2table
(
@values varchar(max),
@separator varchar(3),
@limit int -- set to -1 for no limit
) returns @res table (id int identity, [value] varchar(max))
as
begin
declare @value varchar(50)
declare @commapos int, @lastpos int
set @commapos = 0
select @lastpos = @commapos, @commapos = charindex(@separator, @values, @lastpos+1)
while @commapos > @lastpos and @limit <> 0
begin
    select @value = substring(@values, @lastpos+1, @commapos-@lastpos-1)
    if @value <> '' begin
        insert into @res select ltrim(rtrim(@value))
        set @limit = @limit-1
    end
    select @lastpos = @commapos, @commapos = charindex(@separator, @values, @lastpos+1)
end
select @value = substring(@values, @lastpos+1, len(@values))
if @value <> '' insert into @res select ltrim(rtrim(@value))
return
end
GO

The parameters used are:

1. ',' = delimiter
2. -1 = all values in the array, or N for just first N items

solution is above, alternatives below

Or, if you fancy, a purely CTE approach not backed by any split function (watch comments with <<<)

;WITH T(value,delim) AS (
     select 'abc,def,ghi', ','   --- <<< plug in the value array and delimiter here
),  CTE(ItemData, Seq, I, J) AS (
    SELECT
        convert(varchar(max),null),
        0,
        CharIndex(delim, value)+1,
        1--case left(value,1) when ' ' then 2 else 1 end
    FROM T
    UNION ALL
    SELECT
        convert(varchar(max), subString(value, J, I-J-1)),
        Seq+1,
        CharIndex(delim, value, I)+1, I
    FROM CTE, T
    WHERE I > 1 AND J > 0
    UNION ALL
    SELECT
        SubString(value, J, 2000),
        Seq+1,
        CharIndex(delim, value, I)+1, 0
    FROM CTE, T
    WHERE I = 1 AND J > 1
)

--- <<< the final insert statement
insert into tblMyTable (Col1, Col2, Col3)
SELECT 'value1', ItemData, 'value3'
FROM CTE
WHERE Seq>0

XML approach

-- take an XML param
declare @xml xml
set @xml = '<root><item>abc</item><item>def</item><item>ghi</item></root>'

insert into tblMyTable (Col1, Col2, Col3)
SELECT 'value1', n.c.value('.','varchar(max)'), 'value3'
FROM @xml.nodes('/root/item') n(c)

-- heck, start with xml string
declare @xmlstr nvarchar(max)
set @xmlstr = '<root><item>abc</item><item>def</item><item>ghi</item></root>'

insert tblMyTable (Col1, Col2, Col3)
SELECT 'value1', n.c.value('.','varchar(max)'), 'value3'
FROM (select convert(xml,@xmlstr) x) y
cross apply y.x.nodes('/root/item') n(c)

In C# code, you would only use 4 lines starting with "insert tblMyTable ..." and parameterize the @xmlstr variable.