@Toby

you are totally right, it is visible in different processes.

kr/Werner

As this mechanismn is transaction or session relevant,

you cannot use it over two processes.

Just a hint (was mssing in the story): You can check these locks with

select APPLOCK_MODE('dbo','MyMutex','Session')

select APPLOCK_TEST('dbo','MyMutex','Exclusive','Session')...

In this sample not, because it is defined as varchar(16) and always truncated.

kr/werner

Yes, i wanted just to remark the comment from Bob, that a string cannot be returned in the return clause.

This is partly true, because as usual conversion will take place, and if possible to convert the string to an integer it would be returned, otherwise an error occurs

kr/Werner

Hi,

even a trailing delimiter would not work correct

eg. select * from strtotable('1,',','),

because then the result is 1 and 0 !

kr/Werner

Nice method, but works only for unique fields!

There is such a function called Hashbytes (SQLSRV >=2005)

And it is documented.

kr/Werner