How to pivot text columns in SQL Server?

Question

I have a table like this in my database (SQL Server 2008)

ID      Type            Desc
--------------------------------
C-0 Assets          No damage
C-0 Env         


        

Answer 1

Select severity_id, pt.People, Assets, Environment, Reputation
FROM 
(
    select * from COMM.Consequence
) As Temp
PIVOT
(
    max([DESCRIPTION]) 
    FOR [TYPE] In([People], [Assets], [Environment], [Reputation])
) As pt

Answer 2

I recreated this in sql server and it works just fine.

I'm trying to convert this to work when one does not know what the content will be in the TYPE and DESCRIPTION columns.

I was also using this as a guide. (Convert Rows to columns using 'Pivot' in SQL Server)

EDIT ----

Here is my solution for the above where you DON'T KNOW the content in either field....

-- setup commands
        drop table #mytemp
        go

        create table #mytemp (
            id varchar(10),
            Metal_01 varchar(30),
            Metal_02 varchar(100)
        )


-- insert the data
        insert into #mytemp
        select 'C-0','Metal One','Metal_One' union all
        select 'C-0','Metal & Two','Metal_Two' union all
        select 'C-1','Metal One','Metal_One' union all
        select 'C-1','Metal (Four)','Metal_Four' union all
        select 'C-2','Metal (Four)','Metal_Four' union all
        select 'C-2','Metal / Six','Metal_Six' union all
        select 'C-3','Metal Seven','Metal_Seven' union all
        select 'C-3','Metal Eight','Metal_Eight' 

-- prepare the data for rotating:
        drop table #mytemp_ReadyForRotate
        select *,
                    replace(
                        replace(
                            replace(
                                replace(
                                    replace(
                                                mt.Metal_01,space(1),'_'
                                            ) 
                                        ,'(','_'
                                        )
                                    ,')','_'
                                    )
                                ,'/','_'
                                )
                            ,'&','_'
                            )
                    as Metal_No_Spaces
         into #mytemp_ReadyForRotate
         from #mytemp mt

    select 'This is the content of "#mytemp_ReadyForRotate"' as mynote, * from #mytemp_ReadyForRotate

-- this is for when you KNOW the content:
-- in this query I am able to put the content that has the punctuation in the cell under the appropriate column header

        Select id, pt.Metal_One, Metal_Two, Metal_Four, Metal_Six, Metal_Seven,Metal_Eight
        FROM 
        (
            select * from #mytemp
        ) As Temp
        PIVOT
        (
            max(Metal_01) 
            FOR Metal_02 In(
                                Metal_One,
                                Metal_Two,
                                Metal_Four,
                                Metal_Six,
                                Metal_Seven,
                                Metal_Eight
        )
        ) As pt


-- this is for when you DON'T KNOW the content:
-- in this query I am UNABLE to put the content that has the punctuation in the cell under the appropriate column header
-- unknown as to why it gives me so much grief - just can't get it to work like the above
-- it WORKS just fine but not with the punctuation field
        drop table ##csr_Metals_Rotated
        go

        DECLARE @cols AS NVARCHAR(MAX),
            @query  AS NVARCHAR(MAX),
            @InsertIntoTempTable as nvarchar(4000)

        select @cols = STUFF((SELECT ',' + QUOTENAME(Metal_No_Spaces) 
                            from #mytemp_ReadyForRotate
                            group by Metal_No_Spaces
                            order by Metal_No_Spaces
                    FOR XML PATH(''), TYPE
                    ).value('.', 'NVARCHAR(MAX)') 
                ,1,1,'')

        set @query = 'SELECT id,' + @cols + ' into ##csr_Metals_Rotated from 
                     (
                        select id as id, Metal_No_Spaces 
                        from #mytemp_ReadyForRotate
                    ) x
                    pivot 
                    (
                        max(Metal_No_Spaces)
                        for Metal_No_Spaces in (' + @cols + ')
                    ) p '
        execute(@query);

        select * from ##csr_Metals_Rotated