parse a column contains a path value in sql server

Question

How I can parse a column that contains a URL path value in SQL Server?

The input

sites/System1/DocLib1/Folder1/SubFolder/File.pdf

shoul

Answer 1

If you have a known or max number of levels, you can use a little XML.

If unknown, you would have to go dynamic.

Example

Declare @yourtable table (id int,url varchar(500))
Insert Into @yourtable values
(1,'sites/System1/DocLib1/Folder1/SubFolder/File.pdf')

Select A.id
      ,B.*
 From  @yourtable A
 Cross Apply (
                Select Pos1 = ltrim(rtrim(xDim.value('/x[1]','varchar(max)')))
                      ,Pos2 = ltrim(rtrim(xDim.value('/x[2]','varchar(max)')))
                      ,Pos3 = ltrim(rtrim(xDim.value('/x[3]','varchar(max)')))
                      ,Pos4 = ltrim(rtrim(xDim.value('/x[4]','varchar(max)')))
                      ,Pos5 = ltrim(rtrim(xDim.value('/x[5]','varchar(max)')))
                      ,Pos6 = ltrim(rtrim(xDim.value('/x[6]','varchar(max)')))
                      ,Pos7 = ltrim(rtrim(xDim.value('/x[7]','varchar(max)')))
                      ,Pos8 = ltrim(rtrim(xDim.value('/x[8]','varchar(max)')))
                      ,Pos9 = ltrim(rtrim(xDim.value('/x[9]','varchar(max)')))
                From  (Select Cast('<x>' + replace(url,'/','</x><x>')+'</x>' as xml) as xDim) as A 
             ) B

Returns

id  Pos1    Pos2    Pos3    Pos4    Pos5        Pos6        Pos7    Pos8    Pos9
1   sites   System1 DocLib1 Folder1 SubFolder   File.pdf    NULL    NULL    NULL