Implementing Pivot Table like functionality using SQL

Question

Dear All,
Please access a online document:
http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dhntd3vh_0gmwgmq
A 'query-output' is given.
I have pasted this output in Excel and using it's Pivot table feature
obtained an output given as 'Expected-Output' in the document.
How can I achieve this using SQL?
Any guidelines are most welcome.
-Sameer

Answer 1

See if this implementation could satisfy your needings.
     CREATE THE A TABLE WITH ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
CREATE TABLE THINGS (
     WHO     VARCHAR2(32) NOT NULL,
     WHAT VARCHAR2(32) NOT NULL,
     NUM NUMBER
     FILLING THE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('AFAS','TRANSACTION',4);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('FAS-AP','TRANSACTION',2);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('FAS-AR','TRANSACTION',2);               
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('FAS-GL','MASTER',3);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('FAS-GL','REPORT',5);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('INTERNATIONAL CARGO','MASTER',1);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('INTERNATIONAL CARGO','REPORT',2);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('INTERNATIONAL CARGO','TRANSACTION',9);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('PACKAGE EXPRESS','INTELLIVIEW REPORT',1);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('PACKAGE EXPRESS','MASTER',4);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('PACKAGE EXPRESS','TRANSACTION',76);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('PACKAGE EXPRESS','UTILITIES',1);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('WAREHOUSE','REPORT',1);
INSERT INTO THINGS VALUES ('WAREHOUSE','TRANSACTION',9);
     CREATE A TABLE FOR THE FULL CORRISPONDENCE
CREATE TABLE THINGS2 AS
     SELECT A.WHO,B.WHAT, 0 NUM
     FROM (
          SELECT DISTINCT WHO
          FROM THINGS
     ) A, (
          SELECT DISTINCT WHAT
          FROM THINGS
     )B;
     SET THE RIGHT VALUES ON EACH ROW
UPDATE THINGS2 A
SET NUM = (
     SELECT NVL(SUM(NUM),0)
     FROM THINGS B
     WHERE ( A.WHO = B.WHO )
          AND ( A.WHAT = B.WHAT )
     SHOW THE FULL TABLE ( FULL BECAUSE IT CONTAINS THE FULL JOIN BETWEEN "WHO" AND "WHAT" )
SELECT *
FROM THINGS2
     RETRIVE THE EXPECTED OUTPUT
SELECT A.WHO,"TRANSACTION","MASTER","INTELLIVIEW REPORT","UTILITIES"
FROM (
     SELECT WHO,NUM "TRANSACTION"
     FROM THINGS2
     WHERE WHAT = 'TRANSACTION'
) A,(
     SELECT WHO,NUM "MASTER"
     FROM THINGS2
     WHERE WHAT = 'MASTER'
     ) B,(
     SELECT WHO,NUM "REPORT"
     FROM THINGS2
     WHERE WHAT = 'REPORT'
     ) C,(
     SELECT WHO,NUM "INTELLIVIEW REPORT"
     FROM THINGS2
     WHERE WHAT = 'INTELLIVIEW REPORT'
     ) D,(
     SELECT WHO,NUM "UTILITIES"
     FROM THINGS2
     WHERE WHAT = 'UTILITIES'
     ) E
WHERE ( A.WHO = B.WHO )
     AND ( A.WHO = C.WHO )
     AND ( A.WHO = D.WHO )
     AND ( A.WHO = E.WHO );
Ps.
Could anybody tell me how is it possible to indent text on the board of this forum?
Bye Alessandro