Question

I have noticed that SQL keeps track of the latest identity (field it automatically increments each time a new record is created). I want to retrieve the latest identity from the table using C#. Unfortunately most of the time the table is empty (records are written and removed after a while, so often the table is empty).
Is this possible to do this within the bounds of the C# SQL API or do I have to create a stored procedure to retrieve this?

To better explain. If the row above was removed, the next ID number for the next record would be 32. I want to retrieve 32 before the record is written in, in the situation where the table is empty.

Answer 1

SELECT IDENT_CURRENT('table_name')+1;

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IDENT_CURRENT returns the last identity value generated for a specific
table in any session and any scope.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175098.aspx

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However, although this shows what the next ID will be, this doesn’t always mean it will be the next ID entered by yourself. Someone else could INSERT a new record before you.

In short, there is no way of returning the value of what you will next be inserting.