declare @s varchar(1000), @r varchar(1000)
select @s = 'abracadabra',
@r = ''
select @r = @r + q.g
from (
select substring(@s, 1 + 2 * number, 2) + CASE WHEN number < len(@s) / 2 THEN 'AA' ELSE '' END g
from master..spt_values
where name is null
and number between 0 and len(@s) / 2
) q
select @r
Peter Larsson
Helsingborg, Sweden