This is not the answer to the posters question.

Here you do create a new column with identity property, and EM will also create a new column - the question was...

I assume that it's a one-time operation? If you gotta do it, you gotta do it. One way or the other.

/Kenneth

Well, the example works just fine from a local path, so I assume that it should work just fine from a remote as well, providing you have the proper permissions...

You shouldn't mess with this on the server. Let the developer do the filtering on the client instead, you just return all columns without any fuzz.

Since the dev's code knows...

I don't know how to do it more efficient - ie setbased rather than looping. I suppose you'd still have to loop through each char (digit) in the string and...

AFAIK, you can't.

Identity columns has to be created as new, they cannot be altered from old columns. (from the top of my head, though - haven't confirmed if I...

Yes, that is correct. Returnvalue is int, so valid values are what an int in Transact SQL can hold.

/Kenneth

Can you explain a bit more?

Table DDL and a few rows of sample data and your desired output would be nice as well. (gives us something to work with)

Though, if there are FK constraints declared you need to turn them off first. If there are no FK's present, you maight even be able to use truncate instead of...

BOL - search for 'checksum' has the answer

/Kenneth

Well, if you absolutely must read the file row-by-row (why do you want to do that?) then DTS will provide that for you if you also do some sort of...

Heh, I didn't even bother to go into nested aliases

select x.foobar as 'fuubar'

from

( select foo as 'foobar' from bar ) x

etc etc......

Hmm I wonder... Only thing I can think of is to search the viewdefinition for '%myAlias%' string patterns, then you're on your own.

I think it can be pretty challenging to programmatically...

My 'clients' in this case is other systems inhouse. If we make an arrangement of sending/receiving data to/from eachother, it's cruicial to lay out specs about what format the data...

Well, in general the SISO(tm) algortithm is all too true in our line of business, so I try my hardest to apply the necessary amount of force on the delivering...