Tough One: How do u denormailize a table via a view, if column is text not numb

We have a table A as such:

REQ LINE_NUM DESCP

      9        10000        PED IS OFF
      9        20000        SO PROCEED 
      9        30000        WITH X

that needs to be joined to a table B as such

REQ location date

9 LA 01/01/01

to produce

REQ     location           date                 DESCP

9               LA              01/01/01          PED IS OFF SO PROCEED WITH X

(the app that creates the table A only allows x number of characters per column if DESCP is longer than that it creates additional rows until whole DESCP is stored)

I know how to denormalize a table if the column that is denormalized is a number e.g.
SELECT a,b,
sum(decode(y, z, 99, 0)),
sum(decode(y, z, 88, 0))
FROM TB1
       GROUP BY a,b

but what if its a varchar?

We need this done dynamically via a view

Any ideas?      Received on Tue Oct 30 2001 - 11:47:08 CST