What is set base code ?

  • Hi,

    What is set base code ?

    Can anyone explain with suitable example.

    Why we should opt for set base code instead of cursor or loop ?

    Thanks

    [font="Verdana"]Regards
    Kumar Harsh[/font]

    :unsure:

  • It would be too long to explain in a forum question: I suggest you look for articles around.

    http://www.google.com/search?q=set+based+code

    Basically, the main concept here is that set based code leaves the task of joining, filtering etc. to the database engine, rather than trying to "do it yourself" with cursors. The engine "knows better" how to work on data, don't try to beat it. Set based code will always be faster.

    Stupid, but very clear example:

    CURSOR BASED

    DECLARE @id int

    DECLARE cur CURSOR

    FOR

    SELECT Id

    FROM MyTable

    WHERE Column2 = 0

    OPEN cur

    FETCH NEXT FROM cur INTO @id

    WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0

    BEGIN

    UPDATE AnotherTable

    SET SomeColumn = 0

    WHERE Id = @Id

    FETCH NEXT FROM cur INTO @id

    END

    CLOSE cur

    DEALLOCATE cur

    SET BASED

    UPDATE AnotherTable

    SET SomeColumn = Column2

    FROM AnotherTable AS A

    INNER JOIN MyTable AS B

    ON A.Id = B.Id

    WHERE B.Column2 = 0

    Both pieces of code update AnotherTable, setting the value 0 in the column SomeColumn for all the Ids in MyTable that have the value 0 in Column2. The set based one is MUCH faster.

    Hope this helps.

    Gianluca

    -- Gianluca Sartori

  • I think Jeff Moden says it best..

    Stop thinking ROW, start thinking COLUMN..

    CEWII

  • Jeff Moden always says it best!:-)

    -- Gianluca Sartori

  • Gianluca Sartori (9/23/2009)


    Jeff Moden always says it best!:-)

    Well, I don't want to give him a big head.. But he has a good saying for this topic..

    CEWII

  • After reading this thread, I suspect his head will be quite big enough!

    Here is an example, in pseudo-code.

    1) Traditional Loop/Cursor

    Foreach Executive in Person

    Set Salary = Salary * 1.1

    Next Executive

    2) Set-Based Code

    Update Person

    Set Salary = Salary * 1.1

    Where Executive = 'Y'

    In example 1, every executive in the Person table is given a 10% pay rise, by looping round the executives 1 record at a time, in a read/write/read/write ... fashion.

    In example 2, we say to SQL Server: "Please increase the salaries of all Executives in the Person table by 10%." SQL Server than does this as a single operation, using its own optimised update methods. It is much faster to do it this way.

    The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
    Martin Rees

    You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead.
    Stan Laurel

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