Use sub-query with update statement

Question

I have to update the top 2 rows of a column based on the select top 2 statement with some expressions.

update top(2) [Travel].[dbo].[HOTELS]
set [Travel].[dbo].[HOTELS].NAME = (select top(2) SUBSTRING(Name, 1, 5) + 'xxxxx' + SUBSTRING(Name, LEN(Name) - 2, LEN(Name)) AS column1
                                    from [Travel].[dbo].[HOTELS]                                    
                                   )

With the above query I'm getting this error

Subquery returned more than 1 value. This is not permitted when the subquery follows =, ,=, <, <=, >. >= or when the subquery is used as an expression.

I have to use this in both SQL Server and in Oracle.

Answer 1

in sql-server you can use cte + select data first then update it.

 CREATE TABLE HOTELS ([NAME] varchar(14)); INSERT INTO HOTELS ([NAME]) VALUES ('ABCDEFG'), ('HIJKLMOP'); GO

 with cte as ( select top 2 NAME, SUBSTRING(Name, 1, 5) + 'xxxxx' + SUBSTRING(Name, LEN(Name) - 2, LEN(Name)) AS column1 from [HOTELS] ) update cte set NAME = column1; GO

 2 rows affected 

select * from HOTELS;

 |  NAME | |:------------ |  |  ABCDExxxxxEFG |  |  HIJKLxxxxxMOP | 

db<>fiddle here

---

edit for oracle version

CREATE TABLE Table1 ("NAME" varchar2(80));

 ✓ 

 INSERT ALL INTO Table1 ("NAME") VALUES ('ABCDEFG') INTO Table1 ("NAME") VALUES ('HIJKLMOP') SELECT * FROM dual;

 2 rows affected 

update Table1 set name = SUBSTR(Name, 1, 5) || 'xxxxx' || SUBSTR(Name, LENGTH(Name) - 2, LENGTH(Name)-1) where rownum <= 2

 2 rows affected 

select * from Table1

 |  NAME | |:------------ |  |  ABCDExxxxxEFG |  |  HIJKLxxxxxMOP | 

db<>fiddle here

Answer 2

In your subquery you have top 2 change the limit to 1

update top 2  [Travel].[dbo].[HOTELS]
   set [Travel].[dbo].[HOTELS].NAME  = (
     select top 1  SUBSTRING(Name, 1, 5) + 'xxxxx' + SUBSTRING(Name, LEN(Name) - 2, LEN(Name)) AS column1
    from [Travel].[dbo].[HOTELS]
    where [Travel].[dbo].[HOTELS].id = 1415
  )

And if you don't want the where condition then don't use it eg:

  update top 2  [Travel].[dbo].[HOTELS]
set [Travel].[dbo].[HOTELS].NAME  = (
    select top 1  SUBSTRING(Name, 1, 5) + 'xxxxx' + SUBSTRING(Name, LEN(Name) - 2, LEN(Name)) AS column1
    from [Travel].[dbo].[HOTELS]

  )