Only inserting a row if it's not already there

Question

I had always used something similar to the following to achieve it:

INSERT INTO TheTable
SELECT
    @primaryKey,
    @value1,
    @value2
WHERE
    NOT EXIST         


        

Answer 1

I've done a similar operation in past using a different method. First, I declare a variable to hold the primary key. Then I populate that variable with the output of a select statement which looks for a record with those values. Then I do and IF statement. If primary key is null, then do insert, else, return some error code.

     DECLARE @existing varchar(10)
    SET @existing = (SELECT primaryKey FROM TABLE WHERE param1field = @param1 AND param2field = @param2)

    IF @existing is not null
    BEGIN
    INSERT INTO Table(param1Field, param2Field) VALUES(param1, param2)
    END
    ELSE
    Return 0
END

Answer 2

Firstly, huge shout out to our man @gbn for his contributions to the community. Can't even begin to explain how often I find myself following his advice.

Anyway, enough fanboy-ing.

To add slightly to his answer, perhaps "enhance" it. For those, like me, left feeling unsettled with what to do in the <> 2627 scenario (and no an empty CATCH is not an option). I found this little nugget from technet.

    BEGIN TRY
       INSERT etc
    END TRY
    BEGIN CATCH
        IF ERROR_NUMBER() <> 2627
          BEGIN
                DECLARE @ErrorMessage NVARCHAR(4000);
                DECLARE @ErrorSeverity INT;
                DECLARE @ErrorState INT;

                SELECT @ErrorMessage = ERROR_MESSAGE(),
                @ErrorSeverity = ERROR_SEVERITY(),
                @ErrorState = ERROR_STATE();

                    RAISERROR (
                        @ErrorMessage,
                        @ErrorSeverity,
                        @ErrorState
                    );
          END
    END CATCH

Answer 3

I added HOLDLOCK which wasn't present originally. Please disregard the version without this hint.

As far as I'm concerned, this should be enough:

INSERT INTO TheTable 
SELECT 
    @primaryKey, 
    @value1, 
    @value2 
WHERE 
    NOT EXISTS 
    (SELECT 0
     FROM TheTable WITH (UPDLOCK, HOLDLOCK)
     WHERE PrimaryKey = @primaryKey) 

Also, if you actually want to update a row if it exists and insert if it doesn't, you might find this question useful.

Answer 4

What about the "JFDI" pattern?

BEGIN TRY
   INSERT etc
END TRY
BEGIN CATCH
    IF ERROR_NUMBER() <> 2627
      RAISERROR etc
END CATCH

Seriously, this is quickest and the most concurrent without locks, especially at high volumes. What if the UPDLOCK is escalated and the whole table is locked?

Read lesson 4:

Lesson 4: When developing the upsert proc prior to tuning the indexes, I first trusted that the If Exists(Select…) line would fire for any item and would prohibit duplicates. Nada. In a short time there were thousands of duplicates because the same item would hit the upsert at the same millisecond and both transactions would see a not exists and perform the insert. After much testing the solution was to use the unique index, catch the error, and retry allowing the transaction to see the row and perform an update instead an insert.

Answer 5

I don't know if this is the "official" way, but you could try the INSERT, and fall back to UPDATE if it fails.

Answer 6

You could use MERGE:

MERGE INTO Target
USING (VALUES (@primaryKey, @value1, @value2)) Source (key, value1, value2)
ON Target.key = Source.key
WHEN MATCHED THEN
    UPDATE SET value1 = Source.value1, value2 = Source.value2
WHEN NOT MATCHED BY TARGET THEN
    INSERT (Name, ReasonType) VALUES (@primaryKey, @value1, @value2)