Simple way to transpose columns and rows in SQL?

Question

How do I simply switch columns with rows in SQL? Is there any simple command to transpose?

ie turn this result:

        Paul  | John  | Tim  |  Eric
Red     1       5       1       3
Green   8       4       3       5
Blue    2       2       9       1

into this:

        Red  | Green | Blue
Paul    1       8       2
John    5       4       2
Tim     1       3       9
Eric    3       5       1

PIVOT seems too complex for this scenario.

Answer 1

I created a different version from all the answers above, the procedure has tips about how to use it, this procedure will also keep the same column order:

CREATE OR ALTER PROC PRC_TRANSPOSE (@TBL VARCHAR(100) = NULL, @NM_FIRST_COL VARCHAR(50) = 'DESCRIPTION', @DISTINCT BIT = 0) AS BEGIN

    --Vathaire 03/09/2024

IF @TBL IS NULL BEGIN
    PRINT '
This procedure will get the columns (Except the first one) and transform in rows and the rows from the first column turn into new column    

(It will transpose the data)

    Parameters:
    
@TBL: Name of the temporary table
@NM_FIRST_COL: (Default "DESCRIPTION"), the name to be used for the first column
@DISTINCT: BIT (Default 0), use 1 if you are sure you want to overwrite values in case of duplicity, keepint only the max value
    
    Example:

DROP TABLE IF EXISTS #TEST
CREATE TABLE #TEST (
    Country VARCHAR(100)
    ,Population INT
    ,States INT
    ,Cities INT
)

INSERT #TEST VALUES (''Brazil'', 215300000, 27, 5570)
INSERT #TEST VALUES (''USA'', 333300000, 50, 19495)
INSERT #TEST VALUES (''India'', 1417000000, 28, 4000)

EXEC PRC_TRANSPOSE #TEST, Measure
    '
    RETURN
END
--DECLARE @TBL VARCHAR(100) = '#VATHAIRE'

    --gets the first column

declare @col varchar(100) = (
    select name from tempdb.sys.columns
    where object_id = object_id('tempdb.dbo.' + @tbl)
        and column_id = 1)

    --gets the values from the first column to do the pivot

DECLARE @PIV VARCHAR(1000) 
DECLARE @Q NVARCHAR(1000) = '
SET @PIV = STUFF((
    SELECT '','' + QUOTENAME(' + @COL + ')
    FROM ' + @TBL + '
    ' + IIF(@DISTINCT = 1, 'group by ' + @COL, '') + '
    FOR XML PATH('''')), 1, 1, '''')
'
EXEC SP_EXECUTESQL @Q, N'@PIV VARCHAR(1000) OUT', @PIV OUT

    --get the headers (except the first one)

declare @UNP varchar(1000) = stuff((
    select ',' + QUOTENAME(name) from tempdb.sys.columns
    where object_id = object_id('tempdb.dbo.' + @tbl)
        and column_id != 1
        for xml path('')), 1, 1, '')
declare @UNP_ORDER varchar(3000) = 'CASE ' + @NM_FIRST_COL + ' ' + REPLACE((
    select '|139|WHEN ''' + name + ''' THEN ' + LTRIM(COLUMN_ID) from tempdb.sys.columns
    where object_id = object_id('tempdb.dbo.' + @tbl)
        and column_id != 1
        for xml path('')), '|139|', CHAR(13) + CHAR(9)) + ' END'

EXEC('
select * from ' + @tbl + '
UNPIVOT (
    QTD
    FOR ' + @NM_FIRST_COL + ' IN (' + @UNP + ')
) U
PIVOT (
    MAX(QTD)
    FOR ' + @col + ' IN (' + @PIV + ')
) P
ORDER BY ' + @UNP_ORDER)
END

Answer 2

I like to share the code I'm using to transpose a splitted text based on +bluefeet answer. In this approach I'm implemented as a procedure in MS SQL 2005

SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO
SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO
-- =============================================
-- Author:      ELD.
-- Create date: May, 5 2016.
-- Description: Transpose from rows to columns the user split function.
-- =============================================
CREATE PROCEDURE TransposeSplit @InputToSplit VARCHAR(8000)
    ,@Delimeter VARCHAR(8000) = ','
AS
BEGIN
    SET NOCOUNT ON;

    DECLARE @colsUnpivot AS NVARCHAR(MAX)
        ,@query AS NVARCHAR(MAX)
        ,@queryPivot AS NVARCHAR(MAX)
        ,@colsPivot AS NVARCHAR(MAX)
        ,@columnToPivot AS NVARCHAR(MAX)
        ,@tableToPivot AS NVARCHAR(MAX)
        ,@colsResult AS XML

    SELECT @tableToPivot = '#tempSplitedTable'

    SELECT @columnToPivot = 'col_number'

    CREATE TABLE #tempSplitedTable (
        col_number INT
        ,col_value VARCHAR(8000)
        )

    INSERT INTO #tempSplitedTable (
        col_number
        ,col_value
        )
    SELECT ROW_NUMBER() OVER (
            ORDER BY (
                    SELECT 100
                    )
            ) AS RowNumber
        ,item
    FROM [DB].[ESCHEME].[fnSplit](@InputToSplit, @Delimeter)

    SELECT @colsUnpivot = STUFF((
                SELECT ',' + quotename(C.NAME)
                FROM [tempdb].sys.columns AS C
                WHERE C.object_id = object_id('tempdb..' + @tableToPivot)
                    AND C.NAME <> @columnToPivot
                FOR XML path('')
                ), 1, 1, '')

    SET @queryPivot = 'SELECT @colsResult = (SELECT  '','' 
                    + quotename(' + @columnToPivot + ')
                    from ' + @tableToPivot + ' t
                    where ' + @columnToPivot + ' <> ''''
            FOR XML PATH(''''), TYPE)'

    EXEC sp_executesql @queryPivot
        ,N'@colsResult xml out'
        ,@colsResult OUT

    SELECT @colsPivot = STUFF(@colsResult.value('.', 'NVARCHAR(MAX)'), 1, 1, '')

    SET @query = 'select name, rowid, ' + @colsPivot + '
        from
        (
            select ' + @columnToPivot + ' , name, value, ROW_NUMBER() over (partition by ' + @columnToPivot + ' order by ' + @columnToPivot + ') as rowid
            from ' + @tableToPivot + '
            unpivot
            (
            value for name in (' + @colsUnpivot + ')
            ) unpiv
        ) src
        pivot
        (
            MAX(value)
            for ' + @columnToPivot + ' in (' + @colsPivot + ')
        ) piv
        order by rowid'

    EXEC (@query)

    DROP TABLE #tempSplitedTable
END
GO

I'm mixing this solution with the information about howto order rows without order by (SQLAuthority.com) and the split function on MSDN (social.msdn.microsoft.com)

When you execute the procedure

DECLARE @RC int
DECLARE @InputToSplit varchar(MAX)
DECLARE @Delimeter varchar(1)
    
set @InputToSplit = 'hello|beautiful|world'
set @Delimeter = '|'
    
EXECUTE @RC = [TransposeSplit] 
    @InputToSplit
    ,@Delimeter
GO

you obtain the next result

name	rowid	1	2	3
col_value	1	hello	beautiful	world

Answer 3

I'm doing UnPivot first and storing the results in CTE and using the CTE in Pivot operation.

Demo

with cte as
(
select 'Paul' as Name, color, Paul as Value 
    from yourTable
    union all
    select 'John' as Name, color, John as Value 
    from yourTable
    union all
    select 'Tim' as Name, color, Tim as Value 
    from yourTable
    union all
    select 'Eric' as Name, color, Eric as Value 
    from yourTable
    )
     
select Name, [Red], [Green], [Blue]
from
(
select *
from cte
) as src
pivot 
(
    max(Value)
    for color IN ([Red], [Green], [Blue])
) as Dtpivot;

Answer 4

I was able to use Paco Zarate's solution and it works beautifully. I did have to add one line ("SET ANSI_WARNINGS ON"), but that may be something unique to the way I used it or called it. There is a problem with my usage and I hope someone can help me with it:

The solution works only with an actual SQL table. I tried it with a temporary table and also an in-memory (declared) table but it doesn't work with those. So in my calling code I create a table on my SQL database and then call SQLTranspose. Again, it works great. It's just what I want. Here's my problem:

In order for the overall solution to be truly dynamic I need to create that table where I temporarily store the prepared information that I'm sending to SQLTranspose "on the fly", and then delete that table once SQLTranspose is called. The table deletion is presenting a problem with my ultimate implementation plan. The code needs to run from an end-user application (a button on a Microsoft Access form/menu). When I use this SQL process (create a SQL table, call SQLTranspose, delete SQL table) the end user application hits an error because the SQL account used does not have the rights to drop a table.

So I figure there are a few possible solutions:

1. Find a way to make SQLTranspose work with a temporary table or a declared table variable.

2. Figure out another method for the transposition of rows and columns that doesn't require an actual SQL table.

3. Figure out an appropriate method of allowing the SQL account used by my end users to drop a table. It's a single shared SQL account coded into my Access application. It appears that permission is a dbo-type privilege that cannot be granted.

I recognize that some of this may warrant another, separate thread and question. However, since there is a possibility that one solution may be simply a different way to do the transposing of rows and columns I'll make my first post here in this thread.

EDIT: I also did replace sum(value) with max(value) in the 6th line from the end, as Paco suggested.

EDIT:

I figured out something that works for me. I don't know if it's the best answer or not.

I have a read-only user account that is used to execute strored procedures and therefore generate reporting output from a database. Since the SQLTranspose function I created will only work with a "legitimate" table (not a declared table and not a temporary table) I had to figure out a way for a read-only user account to create (and then later delete) a table.

I reasoned that for my purposes it's okay for the user account to be allowed to create a table. The user still could not delete the table though. My solution was to create a schema where the user account is authorized. Then whenever I create, use, or delete that table refer it with the schema specified.

I first issued this command from a 'sa' or 'sysadmin' account: CREATE SCHEMA ro AUTHORIZATION

When any time I refer to my "tmpoutput" table I specify it like this example:

drop table ro.tmpoutput

Answer 5

This way Convert all Data From Filelds(Columns) In Table To Record (Row).

Declare @TableName  [nvarchar](128)
Declare @ExecStr    nvarchar(max)
Declare @Where      nvarchar(max)
Set @TableName = 'myTableName'
--Enter Filtering If Exists
Set @Where = ''

--Set @ExecStr = N'Select * From '+quotename(@TableName)+@Where
--Exec(@ExecStr)

Drop Table If Exists #tmp_Col2Row

Create Table #tmp_Col2Row
(Field_Name nvarchar(128) Not Null
,Field_Value nvarchar(max) Null
)

Set @ExecStr = N' Insert Into #tmp_Col2Row (Field_Name , Field_Value) '
Select @ExecStr += (Select N'Select '''+C.name+''' ,Convert(nvarchar(max),'+quotename(C.name) + ') From ' + quotename(@TableName)+@Where+Char(10)+' Union All '
         from sys.columns as C
         where (C.object_id = object_id(@TableName)) 
         for xml path(''))
Select @ExecStr = Left(@ExecStr,Len(@ExecStr)-Len(' Union All '))
--Print @ExecStr
Exec (@ExecStr)

Select * From #tmp_Col2Row
Go

Answer 6

Adding to @Paco Zarate's terrific answer above, if you want to transpose a table which has multiple types of columns, then add this to the end of line 39, so it only transposes int columns:

and C.system_type_id = 56   --56 = type int

Here is the full query that is being changed:

select @colsUnpivot = stuff((select ','+quotename(C.name)
from sys.columns as C
where C.object_id = object_id(@tableToPivot) and
      C.name <> @columnToPivot and C.system_type_id = 56    --56 = type int
for xml path('')), 1, 1, '')

To find other system_type_id's, run this:

select name, system_type_id from sys.types order by name

Answer 7

I'd like to point out few more solutions to transposing columns and rows in SQL.

The first one is - using CURSOR. Although the general consensus in the professional community is to stay away from SQL Server Cursors, there are still instances whereby the use of cursors is recommended. Anyway, Cursors present us with another option to transpose rows into columns.

• Vertical expansion

  Similar to the PIVOT, the cursor has the dynamic capability to append more rows as your dataset expands to include more policy numbers.

• Horizontal expansion

  Unlike the PIVOT, the cursor excels in this area as it is able to expand to include newly added document, without altering the script.

• Performance breakdown

  The major limitation of transposing rows into columns using CURSOR is a disadvantage that is linked to using cursors in general – they come at significant performance cost. This is because the Cursor generates a separate query for each FETCH NEXT operation.

Another solution of transposing rows into columns is by using XML.

The XML solution to transposing rows into columns is basically an optimal version of the PIVOT in that it addresses the dynamic column limitation.

The XML version of the script addresses this limitation by using a combination of XML Path, dynamic T-SQL and some built-in functions (i.e. STUFF, QUOTENAME).

• Vertical expansion

  Similar to the PIVOT and the Cursor, newly added policies are able to be retrieved in the XML version of the script without altering the original script.

• Horizontal expansion

  Unlike the PIVOT, newly added documents can be displayed without altering the script.

• Performance breakdown

  In terms of IO, the statistics of the XML version of the script is almost similar to the PIVOT – the only difference is that the XML has a second scan of dtTranspose table but this time from a logical read – data cache.

You can find some more about these solutions (including some actual T-SQL exmaples) in this article: https://www.sqlshack.com/multiple-options-to-transposing-rows-into-columns/

Answer 8

Based on this solution from bluefeet here is a stored procedure that uses dynamic sql to generate the transposed table. It requires that all the fields are numeric except for the transposed column (the column that will be the header in the resulting table):

/****** Object:  StoredProcedure [dbo].[SQLTranspose]    Script Date: 11/10/2015 7:08:02 PM ******/
SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO
SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO
-- =============================================
-- Author:      Paco Zarate
-- Create date: 2015-11-10
-- Description: SQLTranspose dynamically changes a table to show rows as headers. It needs that all the values are numeric except for the field using for     transposing.
-- Parameters: @TableName - Table to transpose
--             @FieldNameTranspose - Column that will be the new headers
-- Usage: exec SQLTranspose <table>, <FieldToTranspose>
-- =============================================
ALTER PROCEDURE [dbo].[SQLTranspose] 
  -- Add the parameters for the stored procedure here
  @TableName NVarchar(MAX) = '', 
  @FieldNameTranspose NVarchar(MAX) = ''
AS
BEGIN
  -- SET NOCOUNT ON added to prevent extra result sets from
  -- interfering with SELECT statements.
  SET NOCOUNT ON;

  DECLARE @colsUnpivot AS NVARCHAR(MAX),
  @query  AS NVARCHAR(MAX),
  @queryPivot  AS NVARCHAR(MAX),
  @colsPivot as  NVARCHAR(MAX),
  @columnToPivot as NVARCHAR(MAX),
  @tableToPivot as NVARCHAR(MAX), 
  @colsResult as xml

  select @tableToPivot = @TableName;
  select @columnToPivot = @FieldNameTranspose


  select @colsUnpivot = stuff((select ','+quotename(C.name)
       from sys.columns as C
       where C.object_id = object_id(@tableToPivot) and
             C.name <> @columnToPivot 
       for xml path('')), 1, 1, '')

  set @queryPivot = 'SELECT @colsResult = (SELECT  '','' 
                    + quotename('+@columnToPivot+')
                  from '+@tableToPivot+' t
                  where '+@columnToPivot+' <> ''''
          FOR XML PATH(''''), TYPE)'

  exec sp_executesql @queryPivot, N'@colsResult xml out', @colsResult out

  select @colsPivot = STUFF(@colsResult.value('.', 'NVARCHAR(MAX)'),1,1,'')

  set @query 
    = 'select name, rowid, '+@colsPivot+'
        from
        (
          select '+@columnToPivot+' , name, value, ROW_NUMBER() over (partition by '+@columnToPivot+' order by '+@columnToPivot+') as rowid
          from '+@tableToPivot+'
          unpivot
          (
            value for name in ('+@colsUnpivot+')
          ) unpiv
        ) src
        pivot
        (
          sum(value)
          for '+@columnToPivot+' in ('+@colsPivot+')
        ) piv
        order by rowid'
  exec(@query)
END

You can test it with the table provided with this command:

exec SQLTranspose 'yourTable', 'color'

Answer 9

There are several ways that you can transform this data. In your original post, you stated that PIVOT seems too complex for this scenario, but it can be applied very easily using both the UNPIVOT and PIVOT functions in SQL Server.

However, if you do not have access to those functions this can be replicated using UNION ALL to UNPIVOT and then an aggregate function with a CASE statement to PIVOT:

Create Table:

CREATE TABLE yourTable([color] varchar(5), [Paul] int, [John] int, [Tim] int, [Eric] int);

INSERT INTO yourTable
    ([color], [Paul], [John], [Tim], [Eric])
VALUES
    ('Red', 1, 5, 1, 3),
    ('Green', 8, 4, 3, 5),
    ('Blue', 2, 2, 9, 1);

Union All, Aggregate and CASE Version:

select name,
  sum(case when color = 'Red' then value else 0 end) Red,
  sum(case when color = 'Green' then value else 0 end) Green,
  sum(case when color = 'Blue' then value else 0 end) Blue
from
(
  select color, Paul value, 'Paul' name
  from yourTable
  union all
  select color, John value, 'John' name
  from yourTable
  union all
  select color, Tim value, 'Tim' name
  from yourTable
  union all
  select color, Eric value, 'Eric' name
  from yourTable
) src
group by name

See SQL Fiddle with Demo

The UNION ALL performs the UNPIVOT of the data by transforming the columns Paul, John, Tim, Eric into separate rows. Then you apply the aggregate function sum() with the case statement to get the new columns for each color.

Unpivot and Pivot Static Version:

Both the UNPIVOT and PIVOT functions in SQL server make this transformation much easier. If you know all of the values that you want to transform, you can hard-code them into a static version to get the result:

select name, [Red], [Green], [Blue]
from
(
  select color, name, value
  from yourtable
  unpivot
  (
    value for name in (Paul, John, Tim, Eric)
  ) unpiv
) src
pivot
(
  sum(value)
  for color in ([Red], [Green], [Blue])
) piv

See SQL Fiddle with Demo

The inner query with the UNPIVOT performs the same function as the UNION ALL. It takes the list of columns and turns it into rows, the PIVOT then performs the final transformation into columns.

Dynamic Pivot Version:

If you have an unknown number of columns (Paul, John, Tim, Eric in your example) and then an unknown number of colors to transform you can use dynamic sql to generate the list to UNPIVOT and then PIVOT:

DECLARE @colsUnpivot AS NVARCHAR(MAX),
    @query  AS NVARCHAR(MAX),
    @colsPivot as  NVARCHAR(MAX)

select @colsUnpivot = stuff((select ','+quotename(C.name)
         from sys.columns as C
         where C.object_id = object_id('yourtable') and
               C.name <> 'color'
         for xml path('')), 1, 1, '')

select @colsPivot = STUFF((SELECT  ',' 
                      + quotename(color)
                    from yourtable t
            FOR XML PATH(''), TYPE
            ).value('.', 'NVARCHAR(MAX)') 
        ,1,1,'')


set @query 
  = 'select name, '+@colsPivot+'
      from
      (
        select color, name, value
        from yourtable
        unpivot
        (
          value for name in ('+@colsUnpivot+')
        ) unpiv
      ) src
      pivot
      (
        sum(value)
        for color in ('+@colsPivot+')
      ) piv'

exec(@query)

See SQL Fiddle with Demo

The dynamic version queries both yourtable and then the sys.columns table to generate the list of items to UNPIVOT and PIVOT. This is then added to a query string to be executed. The plus of the dynamic version is if you have a changing list of colors and/or names this will generate the list at run-time.

All three queries will produce the same result:

| NAME | RED | GREEN | BLUE |
-----------------------------
| Eric |   3 |     5 |    1 |
| John |   5 |     4 |    2 |
| Paul |   1 |     8 |    2 |
|  Tim |   1 |     3 |    9 |

Answer 10

This normally requires you to know ALL the column AND row labels beforehand. As you can see in the query below, the labels are all listed in their entirely in both the UNPIVOT and the (re)PIVOT operations.

MS SQL Server 2012 Schema Setup:

create table tbl (
    color varchar(10), Paul int, John int, Tim int, Eric int);
insert tbl select 
    'Red' ,1 ,5 ,1 ,3 union all select
    'Green' ,8 ,4 ,3 ,5 union all select
    'Blue' ,2 ,2 ,9 ,1;

Query 1:

select *
from tbl
unpivot (value for name in ([Paul],[John],[Tim],[Eric])) up
pivot (max(value) for color in ([Red],[Green],[Blue])) p

Results:

| NAME | RED | GREEN | BLUE |
-----------------------------
| Eric |   3 |     5 |    1 |
| John |   5 |     4 |    2 |
| Paul |   1 |     8 |    2 |
|  Tim |   1 |     3 |    9 |

Additional Notes:

1. Given a table name, you can determine all the column names from sys.columns or FOR XML trickery using local-name().
2. You can also build up the list of distinct colors (or values for one column) using FOR XML.
3. The above can be combined into a dynamic sql batch to handle any table.