SQL query for making the horizontally stored data to vertical format

Question

HI i have a table named table1 and columns and data as below like below
table1
Main sub1 sub2 sub3 sub4 sub5 sub6
A L1 T1
B L1 T1
C L2 T2 K1 T1
D L2 T2 K1 T1
Basically the data is stored in horizontal above.i want a query to make the data in vertical like below
A T1
A L1
B T1
B L1
C T1
C K1
C T2
C L2
D T1
D K1
D T2
D L2
Aslo even if the values come in sub5 and sub6 the query should handle and populate the values vertically and also if a new row added also.
Thanks a lot in advance

Answer 1

Hi,
As usual, Hoek is absolutely correct.
There are a gazillion examples out there, but someone (I) will give you a specific answer.
Search for "pivot" or "rows to columns" and you will indeed get a gazillion hits. Unfortunately, all but a hemi-semi-demi-gazillion of them will say "There are already lots of examples out there: do a search". Perhaps [this one|http://forums.oracle.com/forums/message.jspa?messageID=3227388#3227388] can get you started.
The essential form of a pivot is:
SELECT       r_val
,       MIN (CASE WHEN c_val = 1 THEN d END)     AS col_1
,       MIN (CASE WHEN c_val = 2 THEN d END)     AS col_2
,       MIN (CASE WHEN c_val = n THEN d END)     AS col_n
FROM       table_x
GROUP BY  r_val;Instead of MIN (which is probably what want) any aggregate function can be used.
This assumes you have a column r_val that indicates what row of output will contain each value. In your example, that's your first column,
It also assumes you have a column c_val that indicates what column will contain each value. In your example, what is that? Looking at the raw data, how can you tell that 'L2' will wind up in the 2nd column of 'D L2 T2 K1 T1', and not the 3rd, 4th or 5th? You may need to assign a c_val to each row (using the aggregate ROW_NUMBER function, perhaps).