Microsoft SQL server does not support a method of identifying the row numbers for records stored on disk, although there are a number of different techniques to associate a sequential number with a row. Today, we'll cover how you can number records by having an identity column, using a temporary table, altering tables, using Self Join, usiung a cursor, and numbering groups of records. See the full tutorial here.

Sequentially Numbering Records by Having an Identity Column


SET NOCOUNT ON
CREATE TABLE SEQ_NUMBER_EXAMPLE (
   RECORD_NUMBER INT IDENTITY (1,1),
   DESCRIPTION VARCHAR(40))
INSERT INTO SEQ_NUMBER_EXAMPLE VALUES('FIRST RECORD')
INSERT INTO SEQ_NUMBER_EXAMPLE VALUES('SECOND RECORD')
INSERT INTO SEQ_NUMBER_EXAMPLE VALUES('THIRD RECORD')
INSERT INTO SEQ_NUMBER_EXAMPLE VALUES('FOURTH RECORD')
INSERT INTO SEQ_NUMBER_EXAMPLE VALUES('FIFTH RECORD')
SELECT * FROM SEQ_NUMBER_EXAMPLE
DROP TABLE SEQ_NUMBER_EXAMPLE



Sequentially Numbering Records by Using a Temporary Table


create table #HireDate (rank int identity, 
                    HireDate datetime,
                    LastName nvarchar(20),
                    FirstName nvarchar(20)
                    )
insert into #HireDate (HireDate, LastName, FirstName)
  select Hiredate, LastName, Firstname
    from northwind.dbo.employees
    where Title = 'Sales Representative'
    order by HireDate
Select cast(rank as char(4)) as Rank, 
       cast(hiredate as varchar(23)) as HireDate,
       LastName, 
       FirstName from #HireDate
Drop table #HireDate



Sequentially Numbering Records by Altering Table


set nocount on
alter table pubs.dbo.titles
 add rownum int identity(1,1)
go
select rownum, title from pubs.dbo.titles
   where rownum < 6
   order by rownum
go
alter table pubs.dbo.titles
drop column rownum



Sequentially Numbering Records by Using a Self Join


SELECT count(*) RecNum,
       a.LastName
     FROM Northwind.dbo.Employees a join
          Northwind.dbo.Employees b
          on a.LastName >= b.LastName
     group by a.LastName
     order by a.LastName



Sequentially Number Records by Using a Cursor


declare @i int
declare @name varchar(200)
declare authors_cursor cursor
   for select rtrim(au_lname) + ', ' + rtrim(au_fname) from pubs.dbo.authors
         where au_lname < 'G' 
       order by au_lname, au_fname
open authors_cursor
fetch next from authors_cursor into @name
set @i = 0
print 'recnum name'
print '------ -------------------------------'
while @@fetch_status = 0
begin
  set @i = @i + 1
  print cast(@i as char(7)) + rtrim(@name)
  fetch next from authors_cursor into @name
end
close authors_cursor
deallocate authors_cursor



Sequentially Numbering Groups of Records


select OD.OrderID, LineNumber, OD.ProductID, UnitPrice, Quantity, Discount 
  from  Northwind.dbo.[Order Details] OD
       join 
        (select count(*) LineNumber, 
                a.OrderID, a.ProductID
                from Northwind.dbo.[Order Details] A join
                     Northwind.dbo.[Order Details] B 
                     on  A.ProductID >= B.ProductID
                         and A.OrderID = B.OrderID
                  group by A.OrderID, A.ProductID) N
          on OD.OrderID= N.OrderID and 
             OD.ProductID = N.ProductID
    where OD.OrderID < 10251
    order by OD.OrderID, OD.ProductID



DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware.

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