Swap unique indexed column values in database

Question

I have a database table and one of the fields (not the primary key) is having a unique index on it. Now I want to swap values under this column for two rows. How could this

Answer 1

Assuming you know the PK of the two rows you want to update... This works in SQL Server, can't speak for other products. SQL is (supposed to be) atomic at the statement level:

CREATE TABLE testing
(
    cola int NOT NULL,
    colb CHAR(1) NOT NULL
);

CREATE UNIQUE INDEX UIX_testing_a ON testing(colb);

INSERT INTO testing VALUES (1, 'b');
INSERT INTO testing VALUES (2, 'a');

SELECT * FROM testing;

UPDATE testing
SET colb = CASE cola WHEN 1 THEN 'a'
                WHEN 2 THEN 'b'
                END
WHERE cola IN (1,2);

SELECT * FROM testing;

so you will go from:

cola    colb
------------
1       b
2       a

to:

cola    colb
------------
1       a
2       b