How to Update Only the Top N Records in SQL Server?

Updating Top Records in SQL Server

In SQL Server, modifying the desired number of records at the beginning of a table or a view is often necessary. Suppose you want to update just the top portion of a dataset, such as the top 100 records, without affecting the rest. This can be achieved using the TOP clause in an UPDATE statement.

Example

Consider a table named "T1" with two columns: "F1" and "F2". It contains 200 records, and you want to modify the "F1" column in the top 100 records. To do this, use the following syntax:

UPDATE TOP (100) T1
SET F1 = 1

Explanation

• The UPDATE keyword initiates the update operation.
• TOP (100) specifies that the operation should affect only the top 100 records.
• T1 is the table name.
• SET F1 = 1 defines the update action, setting the "F1" column to the value 1.

Note

The parentheses around TOP (100) are essential for proper syntax in the UPDATE statement.

The above is the detailed content of How to Update Only the Top N Records in SQL Server?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!