This will do it... assuming that names are unique...

--===== Simulate the OPs table

-- This is NOT part of the solution

DECLARE @yourtable TABLE

...

Thanks... that's half the battle... 😉

Do you have any documentation on the record layout of the file you intend to import? And can you attach a file with,...

Heh... yep, I knew that Michael... sorry I didn't state things clearly... I wanted to know the condition of the OPs data.

Just curious... I can see where a NULL end date could be interpreted as 31 Dec 9999, but what does a NULL start date indicate other than something hasn't started?...

GSquared (1/18/2008)

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He's already mentioned that the column is being changed to datetime. He just wants to reformat it first (didn't say why). So, he's on the right track...

Very good comprehensive article. I just don't understand why a simple BULK INSERT couldn't be used to populate a temp table...

If I remember correctly, @@IDENTITY has all the potential problems you describe including grabbing from the wrong table in the presence of triggers. I've never seen Scope_Identity fail in...

No, no... you have to eat the boards if you use that word 😛

Dang! You're spot on! I DO have better things to do than to help you. Thanks for the advice 😉

OOOOHHHHHHHH!!! THAT 4-letter word! You're correct... it's a mortal sin to even speak it! 😛

I have a "special" oversize bat for that one... forgot all about it 'cause...

Ah... understood...

I'm pretty new to 2k5 and don't have an answer for you. Guess that'll be a good thing for me to study over the weekend... permissions.

I laughed out loud when I saw your post above, Matt... I do understand that you have to use 20 or 30 pound porkchops to convince people of the right...

Yeah... I do need to be a jerk about it... you wasted time by not posting in the correct forum and not telling us which version of SQL you were...

Guess I havn't had enough coffee yet, Matt... which 4-letter instruction? Exec?

Nice one, Joe...

Even at that, the problem still remains... if a human doesn't take the time to establish a proper naming convention, proper DRI, and proper table/column commenting, although the...