Security shouldn't be an issue, as it will be within a SP or function. As for performance, well, the 'design' of our database squashes any hopes we might have...

yeah, that's the route i'm going down now. looks like that will do the trick

oh, the design of the system is a topic best left alone.

unfortunately, you suggestion won't work because the column names are unknown at design time (more may be added during...

it wasn't really a solution per say, i just realised that looking at the problem in a different way eliminated it

it was more the limits of my sql knowledge. went a fully different route. thanks all

i'll give it a shot

thanks