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sqlsql-serversql-update

Update multiple columns in SQL

Is there a way to update multiple columns in SQL server the same way an insert statement is used?

Something like:

Update table1 set (a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j,k)=
(t2.a,t2.b,t2.c,t2.d,t2.e,t2.f,t2.g,t2.h,t2.i,t2.j,t2.k)
from table2 t2
where table1.id=table2.id

Or something like that, rather than like so:

update table set a=t2.a,b=t2.b etc

which can be pretty tiresome to write if you have 100+ columns.

Solution

  • The "tiresome way" is standard SQL and how mainstream RDBMS do it.

    With a 100+ columns, you mostly likely have a design problem... also, there are mitigating methods in client tools (eg generation UPDATE statements) or by using ORMs