SQL Select Into Field

Question

I want to accomplish something of the following:

Select DISTINCT(tableA.column) INTO tableB.column FROM tableA

The goal would be to select a distinct data set and then insert that data into a specific column of a new table.

Answer 1

You're pretty much there.

SELECT DISTINCT column INTO tableB FROM tableA

It's going to insert into whatever column(s) are specified in the select list, so you would need to alias your select values if you need to insert into columns of tableB that aren't in tableA.

SELECT INTO

Answer 2

SELECT column INTO tableB FROM tableA

SELECT INTO will create a table as it inserts new records into it. If that is not what you want (if tableB already exists), then you will need to do something like this:

INSERT INTO tableB (
column
)
SELECT DISTINCT
column
FROM tableA

Remember that if tableb has more columns that just the one, you will need to list the columns you will be inserted into (like I have done in my example).

Answer 3

Try the following...

INSERT INTO tableB (column)
Select DISTINCT(tableA.column)
FROM tableA

Answer 4

The goal would be to select a distinct data set and then insert that data into a specific column of a new table.

I don't know what the schema of tableB is... if table B already exists and there is no unique constraint on the column you can do as any of the others suggest here....

INSERT INTO tableB (column)Select DISTINCT(tableA.column)FROM tableA

but if you have a unique constraint on table B and it already exists you'll have to exclude those values already in table B...

INSERT INTO tableB (column)
Select DISTINCT(tableA.column)
FROM tableA
WHERE tableA.column NOT IN (SELECT /* NOTE */ tableB.column FROM tableB)
-- NOTE: Remember if there is a unique constraint you don't need the more
-- costly form of a "SELECT DISTICT" in this subquery against tableB
-- This could be done in a number of different ways - this is just
-- one version. Best version will depend on size of data in each table,
-- indexes available, etc. Always prototype different ways and measure perf.