Exploring the T-SQL Enhancements in SQL Server 2005 : The WAITFOR Command

The WAITFOR command has also been enhanced in SQL Server 2005. In the past, WAITFOR waited for a specified duration or a supplied datetime value. Now, as with the TOP enhancements, you can use WAITFOR with an SQL expression. You can essentially use the WAITFOR function to wait for a T-SQL statement to affect at least one row. (You can also set a timeout on that SQL expression.) You can now specify WAITFOR to wait not only in SELECT statements, but also in INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and RECEIVE statements. In essence, SELECT statements won’t complete until at least one row is produced, and DML statements won’t complete until at least one row is affected.

Here is the syntax:

WAITFOR(<statement>) [,TIMEOUT <timeout_value>]

This feature creates a new alternative to polling. For example, you can use WAITFOR to select all the records in a log or a queue table:

WAITFOR (SELECT * FROM myQ)