Have you ever wondered how to retrieve the last 10 rows from a table in SQL Server? This question was recently asked by one of our readers, Dustin, and it sparked an interesting conversation. In this blog post, we will explore different approaches to achieve this task.

Typically, when you want to retrieve the last 10 rows from a table, you would order the table by an identity column in descending order and then select the top rows. However, Dustin mentioned that his table does not have an identity column. So, we need to find an alternative solution.

One possible solution is to check if the table has a column that tracks the date and time for the newly inserted rows, such as a timestamp column. If such a column exists, we can order the table by this column in descending order and select the top 10 rows.

Unfortunately, Dustin’s table does not have any column that can identify the order of the rows. In this case, we need to explore other options.

We asked Dustin if there is any auditing on the table or if there are any triggers or mechanisms in place that store the data to another table, for example, using an OUTPUT clause. However, Dustin confirmed that there are no such mechanisms in his table.

At this point, Dustin asked if there are any administrative ways to retrieve the last inserted row. He suggested reading the log files to determine the inserted rows. However, we advised against this approach as it can be risky and may compromise the integrity of the database.

Reading log files directly is not recommended, as it requires a deep understanding of the log file structure and can potentially lead to data corruption if not done correctly. We suggested Dustin to take a backup of the log file and experiment with it separately if he still wants to pursue this approach.

As for recommending a specific tool to read log files, we did not have any recommendations at the time of the conversation. However, we assured Dustin that we would conduct further research and write a blog post about it if we find a reliable tool.

It’s important to note that we do not allow third-party tool links in the comments section, as they can pose a security risk. We prioritize the safety and integrity of our readers’ databases.

In conclusion, retrieving the last 10 rows from a table in SQL Server can be challenging if the table does not have an identity column or a column that tracks the order of the rows. While reading log files may seem like a potential solution, it is not recommended due to the risks involved. We will continue our research and provide an update in a future blog post if we find a safe and reliable tool for this task.