How can I do a SQL UPDATE in batches, like an Update Top?

Question

Is it possible to add a TOP or some sort of paging to a SQL Update statement?

I have an UPDATE query, that comes down to something like this:

Answer 1

You can use SET ROWCOUNT { number | @number_var } it limits number of rows processed before stopping the specific query, example below:

SET ROWCOUNT 10000 -- define maximum updated rows at once

UPDATE XXX SET 
    XXX.YYY = #TempTable.ZZZ
FROM XXX
INNER JOIN (SELECT SomeFields ... ) #TempTable ON XXX.SomeId = #TempTable.SomeId
WHERE XXX.YYY <> #TempTable.ZZZ and OtherConditions

-- don't forget about bellow 
-- after everything is updated
SET ROWCOUNT 0

I've added XXX.YYY <> #TempTable.ZZZ to where clause to make sure you will not update twice already updated value.

Setting ROWCOUNT to 0 turn off limits - don't forget about it.