Question

Using SQL Server from .NET, is it possible (using the same or separate connections) to read both the underlying data as well as the as-yet uncommitted changes from another separate connection?

For example:

I have Connection1, which starts a transaction and inserts a record with Id == 1 into a table but doesn’t commit it

From Connection2, I would like to read the table without that row existing

From Connection2 or Connection3, I would like to read the table with the row existing.

Answer 1

Yes, you need to enable dirty reads aka READ UNCOMMITTED

Edit:

To read both sets of data you’d need a combination of “snapshot isolation” in one connection and “read uncommitted” in another.

YMMV. It isn’t something…

1. I’ve tried
2. See a use for
3. I’d have confidence in