Introduced in SQL 2008 the merge function is a useful way of inserting, updating and deleting data inside one SQL statement.

 

In the example below I have 2 tables one containing historical data using type 2 SCD (Slowly changing dimensions) called DimBrand and another containing just the latest dimension data called LatestDimBrand. Using the merge function I will insert new records from LatestDimBrand into DimBrand, I will archive (apply an end date) to any DimBrand records which do not appear in the latest data, and finally enter a new record and archive the old record for any Brands which may have changed.

 

DimBrand (the target of our Inserts, Updates, Deletes) and DimLatestBrand (the source for Inserts,Updates,Deletes):

 

image     image

 

The merge code in it’s entirety:

 

INSERT #DimBrand    ([BrandCode],[BrandName],[StartDate])
SELECT                 [BrandCode],[BrandName],getdate()                                    
FROM                (
                    MERGE #DimBrand AS Target
                    USING    (
                            SELECT    [BrandCode],[BrandName],[StartDate],[EndDate]                       
                            FROM    #LatestDimBrand
                            ) AS Source
                    ON     (Target.[BrandCode] = Source.[BrandCode])    
                    -------------------------------                       
                    WHEN MATCHED AND Target.[BrandName] <> Source.[BrandName]
                        THEN
                        UPDATE SET Target.[EndDate] = getdate()
                    -------------------------------
                    WHEN NOT MATCHED BY TARGET 
                        THEN
                        INSERT ( 
                                [BrandCode]                        
                                ,[BrandName]                    
                                ,[StartDate]              
                                ,[EndDate]                                            
                        )
                        VALUES (      
                                Source.[BrandCode], 
                                Source.[BrandName], 
                                Source.[StartDate],
                                Source.[EndDate]   
                        )
                    -------------------------------
                    WHEN NOT MATCHED BY SOURCE 
                        THEN 
                        UPDATE SET Target.[EndDate] = getdate()
                    -------------------------------
                    OUTPUT $Action, Source.*
                    ) As i([Action],[BrandCode],[BrandName],[StartDate],[EndDate])
                    -------------------------------
WHERE                [Action] = 'UPDATE'
AND                    BrandCode IS NOT NULL

The insert statement, although appearing at the top of the SQL statement is the last thing to be executed and uses the results set of the merge function specified in the OUTPUT clause further down.

 

image

 

Next is the start of our merge statement here we specify a Target and a Source table. We also specify which columns the 2 tables should match on, in this case only the BrandCode.

 

image

 

The next step is to specify and handle any matches, here we are looking for Brand Code’s which appear in both tables, but with differing Brand Names. If a match is found the row in the target table is given an end date.  As with the following “NOT MATCHED” section inserts, updates or deletes can be applied to either table here. This handles the first part of our Slowly Changing Dimension requirement.

 

image

 

Where there is no match between the Target table and the Source table, the relevant records from the Source table are inserted into the Target table.

 

image

 

The penultimate part of the merge statement takes any Target records which do not appear in our “Latest” Source table and sets an EndDate for them as they are no longer a valid record.

 

image

 

The OUTPUT clause populates the outer INSERT statement, here the Source rows which are involved in the UPDATE statements above are pulled out to the outer FROM clause. We have also selected $Action so that we can filter out the INSERTED rows under the NOT MATCHED by Target statement.

 

image

 

The result of all the above is the brand “Googles” is archived along with the “MikeRowSoft” which as you can see from the BrandCode has been rebranded as MickRowSoft.

 

image