Other SQL Server 2000 Development Features

While SQL Server 2000 introduces numerous features specifically for Web and knowledge management applications, it also includes features that benefit application programming in general. In particular, it adds features that make it easier to write stored procedures (code that runs on the database server), including the following:

Cascading deletes and updates. SQL Server 2000 can automatically make adjustments to the database after updates or deletes to enforce referential integrity constraints. For example, if an application deletes a purchase order entry in a table, SQL Server can “cascade” that delete to a separate table that holds the purchase order’s line items, automatically deleting entries for items in the order. Cascading deletes and updates are standard features of many database servers, but new to SQL Server. SQL Server 7.0 can enforce referential integrity constraints, but only by aborting transactions that try to make changes that violate the constraints; it can’t automatically cascade updates or deletes to related tables.