>My table design is - due to some import/update reasons - surely not >the best one, but pretty simple: > >id y1970 y1971 y1972 ...... >1 23 25 28 >2 NULL NULL 5 >3 NULL 94 102 > >What do you think? Normally i use perl with DBD/DBI to import data into databases and it is quite easy to modify raw data with perl and import them. I would prefer another table design (your import will then not be so simple, but your "selects" will get "normally" faster and easier). Table: id_Table;id_row;t_year;t_year_value 1;1;y1970,23 2;1;y1971;25 ... .... 20;3;y1970;NULL 21;3;y1971;94 You will need only id_row if you need all tuples in the same line of your original line. I yould do it so, if you have more then 3 or 4 columns of y???? . Greetings, -Franz ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 6: explain analyze is your friend