Frank,
Don't be so quick to give up on the data layer. I had a similar challenge... I've posted ALL the code including the example data and table creation. The actual code that does the work you are looking for is very short. If you don't need the delimiter, set the delimiter to '' and you'll be OK.
--Jeff Moden
Here's the code...
SET NOCOUNT ON
GO
/*===== SETUP DEMONSTRATION FOR IMPROVED MAKEMODEL PROBLEM =====*/
----- DROP MAKEMODEL TABLE IF IT EXISTS
IF EXISTS
(SELECT * FROM SYSOBJECTS WHERE [NAME] = 'MakeModel')
DROP TABLE dbo.MakeModel
GO
----- IF THE NEW FUNCTION EXISTS, DROP IT -----
IF EXISTS
(SELECT * FROM SYSOBJECTS WHERE [NAME] = 'fn_DelimitRow')
DROP FUNCTION dbo.fn_DelimitRow
GO
----- CREATE THE MAKEMODEL TABLE -----
CREATE TABLE dbo.MakeModel
(
[ID] [int] IDENTITY (1, 1) NOT NULL ,
[MAKE] [varchar] (10) NULL ,
[MODEL] [varchar] (20) NULL
 
ON [PRIMARY]
GO
----- POPULATE THE MAKE MODEL TABLE WITH EXAMPLE DATA -----
INSERT INTO MakeModel (MAKE,MODEL)
VALUES ('FORD','MUSTANG')
INSERT INTO MakeModel (MAKE,MODEL)
VALUES ('CHEVY','MALIBU')
INSERT INTO MakeModel (MAKE,MODEL)
VALUES ('CHEVY','NOVA')
INSERT INTO MakeModel (MAKE,MODEL)
VALUES ('LINCOLN','CONTINENTAL')
INSERT INTO MakeModel (MAKE,MODEL)
VALUES ('FORD','NAVIGATOR')
INSERT INTO MakeModel (MAKE,MODEL)
VALUES ('FORD','F150 TRUCK')
INSERT INTO MakeModel (MAKE,MODEL)
VALUES ('GMC','SIERRA')
INSERT INTO MakeModel (MAKE,MODEL)
VALUES ('CHEVY','S10')
GO
----- DISPLAY CONTENTS OF TABLE TO VERIFY
SELECT *
FROM MakeModel
GO
/*===== CREATE THE NEW FUNCTION =====*/
----- Could parameterize more for table and column names
-- and use with dynamic SQL to run
CREATE FUNCTION fn_DelimitRow (@Make VARCHAR(50),@Delim VARCHAR(10))
RETURNS VARCHAR(8000)
AS
BEGIN
DECLARE @info VARCHAR(8000)
-- Next line is "JBM PFM!"
SELECT @info = COALESCE(@Info + @Delim, '') + RTRIM(MODEL)
FROM MakeModel
WHERE MAKE=@Make
ORDER BY MODEL
RETURN (@Info)
END
GO
/*===== NOW, DEMO NEW MAKEMODEL PROBLEM SOLUTION =====*/
----- No temp or working tables and no cursors!
----- Can pass any 1-10 character delimiter in single quotes
SELECT DISTINCT MAKE, dbo.fn_DelimitRow(MAKE,', ') AS MODELS
FROM MakeModel
--Jeff Moden
RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.
"Change is inevitable... change for the better is not".
Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)
Intro to Tally Tables and Functions