SQL to return a column

[RyanEK]

Hi All,

Let's say I have the following table:

ID Name
------------
1 ryan
2 needs
3 help

Is there a way to write a sql so that I can return the 2nd column without specifying the field name? Some kind of column index maybe?

ie.

select column 2 from table


thanks!

Ryan

 

[bborissov]

Why?
Maybe you have your reasons, but I didn't see ones


Borislav Borissov
VFP9 SP1, SQL Server 2000/2005.

 

[RyanEK]

Yep valid question... why indeed? We should be on a beach somewhere getting a tan.

I need it to help create data warehouses and olap cubes.

 

[jbenson001]

as far as I know you can only use a column index in an Order By clause, not a select..

for example...
select * from <table>
order by 2

Jim

 

[RyanEK]

Hmmm yeah... I'm starting to think this is not possible...

Thanks anyway.

 

[jbenson001]

You could do something like this, but is seems to be overly complex, but it may help you..

declare @c varchar(10)
declare @sql varchar(100)

--change the code below for table name and column you want.
select @c = column_name from information_schema.columns
where table_name = 'vehcolors' and ordinal_position = 2

set @sql = 'select ' +@c + ' from vehcolors'

exec sp_sqlexec @sql

 

[travisbrown]

If it is just a matter of not displaying a field name...

SELECT     OrderID AS ' '
FROM         [Order Details]