sql - Getting a Dynamically-Generated Pivot-Table into a Temp Table

Question

I've seen this, so I know how to create a pivot table with a dynamically generated set of fields. My problem now is that I'd like to get the results into a temporary table.

I know that in order to get the result set into a temp table from an EXEC statement you need to predefine the temp table. In the case of a dynamically generated pivot table, there is no way to know the fields beforehand.

The only way I can think of to get this type of functionality is to create a permanent table using dynamic SQL. Is there a better way?

Answer 1

Ran in to this issue today, and posted on my blog. Short description of solution, is to create a temporary table with one column, and then ALTER it dynamically using sp_executesql. Then you can insert the results of the dynamic PIVOT into it. Working example below.

CREATE TABLE #Manufacturers
(
    ManufacturerID INT PRIMARY KEY,
    Name VARCHAR(128)
)

INSERT INTO #Manufacturers (ManufacturerID, Name)
VALUES (1,'Dell')
INSERT INTO #Manufacturers (ManufacturerID, Name)
VALUES (2,'Lenovo')
INSERT INTO #Manufacturers (ManufacturerID, Name)
VALUES (3,'HP')

CREATE TABLE #Years
(YearID INT, Description VARCHAR(128))
GO

INSERT INTO #Years (YearID, Description) VALUES (1, '2014')
INSERT INTO #Years (YearID, Description) VALUES (2, '2015')
GO

CREATE TABLE #Sales
(ManufacturerID INT, YearID INT,Revenue MONEY)
GO

INSERT INTO #Sales (ManufacturerID, YearID, Revenue) VALUES(1,2,59000000000)
INSERT INTO #Sales (ManufacturerID, YearID, Revenue) VALUES(2,2,46000000000)
INSERT INTO #Sales (ManufacturerID, YearID, Revenue) VALUES(3,2,111500000000)
INSERT INTO #Sales (ManufacturerID, YearID, Revenue) VALUES(1,1,55000000000)
INSERT INTO #Sales (ManufacturerID, YearID, Revenue) VALUES(2,1,42000000000)
INSERT INTO #Sales (ManufacturerID, YearID, Revenue) VALUES(3,1,101500000000)
GO

DECLARE @SQL AS NVARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE @PivotColumnName AS NVARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE @TempTableColumnName AS NVARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE @AlterTempTable AS NVARCHAR(MAX)

--get delimited column names for various SQL statements below
SELECT 
    -- column names for pivot
    @PivotColumnName= ISNULL(@PivotColumnName + N',',N'') + QUOTENAME(CONVERT(NVARCHAR(10),YearID)),
    -- column names for insert into temp table
    @TempTableColumnName = ISNULL(@TempTableColumnName + N',',N'') + QUOTENAME('Y' + CONVERT(NVARCHAR(10),YearID)),
    -- column names for alteration of temp table
    @AlterTempTable = ISNULL(@AlterTempTable + N',',N'') + QUOTENAME('Y' + CONVERT(NVARCHAR(10),YearID)) + ' MONEY' 
FROM (SELECT DISTINCT [YearID] FROM #Sales) AS Sales

CREATE TABLE #Pivot
(
     ManufacturerID INT
)

-- Thats it! Because the following step will flesh it out.

SET @SQL = 'ALTER TABLE #Pivot ADD ' + @AlterTempTable
EXEC sp_executesql @SQL

--execute the dynamic PIVOT query into the temp table 
SET @SQL =  N'
    INSERT INTO #Pivot (ManufacturerID, ' + @TempTableColumnName + ')
    SELECT ManufacturerID, ' + @PivotColumnName + '
    FROM #Sales S
    PIVOT(SUM(Revenue) 
      FOR S.YearID IN (' + @PivotColumnName + ')) AS PivotTable'
EXEC sp_executesql @SQL

SELECT M.Name, P.*
FROM #Manufacturers M
INNER JOIN #Pivot P ON M.ManufacturerID = P.ManufacturerID