> Ok here is another simple question from a novice....
>
> Here is what my table looks like
>
> firstname lastname fullname
> ---------- ---------- -----------
> smith, john
> green, susan
> white, jeff
>
>
> How can I break the fullname field into firstname lastname fields so it
> looks like the following:
>
> firstname lastname fullname
> --------- --------- ---------
> john smith smith, john
> susan green green, susan
> jeff white white, jeff
>
> Please let me know. Sorry for such simple novice questions, I appreciate
> your support.
>
> THANKS!
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 2: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster
>
temp=# create table temptable3 (firstname varchar(32), lastname
varchar(32), fullname varchar(32)) without oids;
CREATE TABLE
temp=# insert into temptable3 (fullname) values ('smith, john');
INSERT 0 1
temp=# insert into temptable3 (fullname) values ('spencer, frank');
INSERT 0 1
temp=# select * from temptable3; firstname | lastname | fullname
-----------+----------+----------------
| | smith, john
| | spencer, frank
(2 rows)
temp=# update temptable3 set firstname=trim(substring(fullname from
position(',' in fullname) + 1)), lastname=trim(substring(fullname from 0
for position(',' in fullname)));
UPDATE 2
temp=# select * from temptable3; firstname | lastname | fullname
-----------+----------+----------------
john | smith | smith, john
frank | spencer | spencer, frank
(2 rows)