updating table with an incremental unique number

[Distraction]

Hello!

I am making some updates to a table, but can't because of a unique constraint.

I have some 'empty' columns that I can use to assign a unique number to, so that then I can make my other updates.

Is there a quick and easy way to update this empty column assigning a unique (or incremental) number to each row?

 

[BillDHS]

You can probably use the RANK function to add a number to each row.

What I don't know is if you'll need a temp table to assign the RANK and then update the base table, or if you can update the base table directly.

 

[Distraction]

Well, I ended up recreating the table with an Identity column then selecting * into it.

Not the workaround I was looking for, but effective in this situation.