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How 2 Update Column with Random Value or Variable Value

  • February 17, 2006 at 7:43 am

    #111691

    Can anyone give me a suggestion on the best way to do this?  I have a table with about 3000 records.   There is a particular column that is Null for all records.  I would like to create a unique value in this field for each record.  It does not really matter what this value is.  I have had two thoughts on how to go about this. 

    The first, which I am not sure how to do, would generate a randomly generated 6-8 character value.

    The second would involve writing a SQL from SQL statement to generate an update statement for each of the records while using another field's value concatenated with a static value.  I have done similar things to this but never for this many records at once. 

    Is there another simpler way to do this that I am overlooking?

    Again, the value that gets populated is not important, only that they are not all the same.  Any thoughts on the best way to go about this? 

    Thanks

    TJP8

  • February 17, 2006 at 8:57 am

    #621705

    update mytable

    set col = substring( cast(newid()as varchar(80)), 1, 8)

  • February 17, 2006 at 11:37 am

    #621762

    Thanks Steve, this did exactly what I was looking to do.

    TJP8

  • February 20, 2006 at 9:57 pm

    #622162

    You can also use:

     

     ALTER TABLE TableName

     ADD Column int identity(1,1)

     

    Regards

    Manoj Jain

    Microsoft

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