There's nothing to indicate "the latest one".

The workaroud Chris had to use might not guarantee the correct output each time.

You should define for yourself what "latest one" should be based...

Without seeing the queries and the actual execution plans it's just guessing...

So, my guess would be parameter sniffing.

For a more detailed answer please provide both, the stand-alone query as well...

Yes, the 2nd option is used when there's a need to send data from a SQL source to an Oracle target.

If both tables (Old_item and new_ITEM) are located at Oracle you could use

Execute ('insert into Old_item

...

Here are a few options to make that single table "smaller":

If the table contains a rather large number of columns (e.g. 50 or more) you might consider "vertical partitioning", meaning...

without seeing the code or at least the xml (obfuscated if needed) and a description how the xml is generated, any answer would be just guessing...

My guess: either the XML...

Yes.

If you followed best practice to allow data change by external applications only via stored procedures you could add the OUTPUT clause to the UPDATE statement together with the internal...

@tom:

My answer (Yes) is based on the "question":

which is close...

To be a little more serious:

To add an index depends if there are queries that'll benefit from it.

Adding an index with all columns just because of adding the index doesn't...

Lynn Pettis (8/3/2014)

Actually, I think the Crystal Ball is needed here. I just...

after a semi-internal discussion the answer we agreed on is:

Yes.

If you need a more detailed answer please provide a more detailed question.

I've been in a project until recently where we had to develop a new database interacting with several applications.

At the beginning it was just me who advocated against the plan...

Again: please clarify what you mean by "Null values"!

The best was to explain it is to provide ready to use sample data as described in the first link in my...

This thread is an excellent example of "logic guessing" because of missing sample data. :angry:

I didn't consider the option that an empty column would be represented by the string 'NULL'...

Sorry for the wrong term "error".

When running the code I posted I get the expected result you're looking for.

So, to rephrase my response:

Running the code I posted I get the...