Is it possible to write a query that returns only non null fields from a specified record? I have a big table with a record for each customer. the record contains a field for each item that can be purchased (only 6 items). I need to write an invoice but not every customer buys every product. I get the feeling Im going about this all wrong. Any help would be great

Thanks

It would have been better to have the up to 6 items as up to 6 records in a separate table. No SQL query can return a variable number of columns, you would have to write some procedural code to run the query and then present the NOT NULL data.

are you still in a designing stage? then you should change the design.
What if more items will be offered?

referential integrity will prevent "lost childs"

otherwise andrew is right. write some procedural code