So true. I'm a "solutions provider" / "developer" / "current vogue name" writing SQL-based intranet (dot net) solutions.

Whilst I have a rough idea of what is going on behind the...

rmechaber (5/23/2012)

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...I found this write-up useful in explaining the benefits -- and issues -- related to XACT_ABORT and TRY..CATCH: http://www.simple-talk.com/sql/t-sql-programming/defensive-error-handling/[/url].

For example, there's a nice demonstration of how XACT_STATE() is...

Oops, I see several other people have already proposed what I just wrote. I didn't realise this thread was so long, apologies!

In which case encapsulating the transaction with a BEGIN TRY/CATCH and a ROLLBACK TRANSACTION in the CATCH does do what a lot of people apparently expected here.

I shall have to...