Converting Columns into rows with their respective data in sql server

Question

I have a scenario where I need to convert columns of table to rows eg - table - stocks:

ScripName       ScripCode       Price   
--------------------------         


        

Answer 1

As an alternative:

Using CROSS APPLY and VALUES performs this operation quite simply and efficiently with just a single pass of the table (unlike union queries that do one pass for every column)

SELECT
    ca.ColName, ca.ColValue
FROM YOurTable
CROSS APPLY (
      Values
         ('ScripName' , ScripName),
         ('ScripCode' , ScripCode),
         ('Price'     , cast(Price as varchar(50)) )
  ) as CA (ColName, ColValue)

Personally I find this syntax easier than using unpivot.

NB: You must take care that all source columns are converted into compatible types for the single value column