Question

If I have a table with an identity column as the primary key, I would use scope_identity() to retrieve latest identity value inserted during scope. What if the primary key is not an identity column, but an nvarchar(256) with a default value of newid() to generate the value. After performing the insert, is there a function that I can use to retrieve that value and store it in some variable? I’ll need to insert this value into other column ID’s in other tables.

Here’s an example of what I’m referring to. In the aspnet_Users table the userID is described like above, if I wanted to use the userID as a FK in my own table, would it be ok to use that autogenerated newid() value or is there a better way? If this is the best way how do I store it easily?

Thank you

Answer 1

The OUTPUT clause of the INSERT is what you are looking for. See this MSDN article.

basically:

DECLARE @newkey TABLE (keys varchar(25));

INSERT INTO actual_table (nonAutoIncId,other1,other2,other3)
OUTPUT INSERTED.nonAutoIncId INTO @newkey
VALUES ('NewId',1,2,3)