Update table column with data from other columns in same row

Question

I have a table that has several columns of textual data. The goal is to concatenate those columns into a single different column in the same table and same row.

What is the SQL Server query syntax that would allow me to do this?

Answer 1

Something like this:

UPDATE myTable SET X = Y + Z

Answer 2

Do you absolutely have to duplicate your data? If one of the column values changes, you will have to update the concatenated value.

A computed column:

alter table dbo.MyTable add ConcatenatedColumn = ColumnA + ColumnB

Or a view:

create view dbo.MyView as
select ColumnA, ColumnB, ColumnA + ColumnB as 'ConcatenatedColumn'
from dbo.MyTable

Now you can update ColumnA or ColumnB, and ConcatenatedColumn will always be in sync. If that's the behaviour you need, of course.