Rod at work (8/27/2012)
GSquared (8/27/2012)
UPDATE/DELETE FROM work in all versions of SQL Server that I've worked with, including SQL 2000, 2005, 2008, and 2012. MS isn't planning on removing them. If they do decide to remove them, they'll let us know several years before it happens.MERGE was introduced to SQL Server in SQL 2008. I've been using it for several years, and it works nicely. It's not available in SQL 2005 and prior.
If you're using SQL 2005, you can use Update/Delete From.
Definitely look into upgrading to a newer version of SQL Server, but not because of Update/Delete From. Upgrade because SQL 2005 isn't getting patches, etc., in routine support any more. Details here: http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/support/support-updates.aspx
Thank you, too, for the reminder that MERGE isn't even available to me, since I'm using SQL 2005.
We won't be upgrading to a newer version of SQL for the foreseeable future. Budgetary considerations.
Understood on the inability to upgrade. You will still get security patches till Jan 2016, and can still pay for incident support through then (if you need that). So that works for a while yet. Assuming I'm reading the support lifecycle and release dates correctly. It could be longer than that, but not less than that.
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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