Get unique values using STRING_AGG in SQL Server

Question

The following query returns the results shown below:

SELECT 
    ProjectID, newID.value
FROM 
    [dbo].[Data] WITH(NOLOCK)  
CROSS APPLY 
    STRING_SPLIT([         


        

Answer 1

You can make a distinct view of the table, that holds the aggregate values, that is even simpler:

Create Table Test (field1 varchar(1), field2 varchar(1));

go

Create View DistinctTest as (Select distinct field1, field2 from test group by field1,field2);

go

insert into Test Select 'A', '1';
insert into Test Select 'A', '2';
insert into Test Select 'A', '2';
insert into Test Select 'A', '2';
insert into Test Select 'D', '1';
insert into Test Select 'D', '1';

select string_agg(field1, ',')  from Test where field2 = '1';  /* duplicates: A,D,D */;

select string_agg(field1, ',')  from DistinctTest where field2 = '1';  /* no duplicates: A,D  */;