Provided your using sql2k you could create a function to return the concatenated descriptions and use it instead of the cursor

Create a function to return the concatenated contributor's names for a supplied bookid and use the function in your select

This will not work for 2 reasons

1. newid() has to be in the select for the order by to work (you will get an error)

2. order by affects the whole query...

As already stated you need a base table to join to get the range you require and without the data and query your using it is difficult to give a...

Would have to search for it, Antares mentioned it on several posts a while ago and it has to do with controlling ID's making sure only one user can get...

That depends....

Unless you use Antares magic bit of code you will still need a transaction for the SELECT/UPDATE and the lock will be implicit anyway

Check the version of MDAC on both client and server, I used to get a lot of connection problems pre 2.7

A HOLDLOCK would be enough....

No it would not, HOLDLOCK will not stop another user using HOLDLOCK

I prefer...

Create a scheduled job to run sp_detach_db and set it to run once at the designated date/time, plus set it to delete if successful if you do not want to...

Depends on whether this a one off, all the spreadsheets the same structure and where the six cells are in the spreadsheet.

SELECT * FROM

OPENROWSET('Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0',

'Excel 8.0;Database=C:\book1.xls', [sheet1$])

will get...

The nearest I came to chalk when I was young was when the teacher would throw it at me for not paying attention,  closely...

Thanks AJ

Just returning the favour, you have set me straight on many an occasion