title: SQL Update row by row
body: <p>My SQL table has 2 fields that impact my problem: "Priority" as real, and Start_Date as datetime. As the user adds items to the table, (s)he specifies the Priority for a given Start_Date.</p>
  
  <p>If Item1 is Priority 1, then Item2 may be Priority 2 and it will be given a Start_Date after Item 1.</p>
  
  <p>But if Item2 is given Priority 0.5 (or any number less than the Priority of Item1), then its Start_Date will be <strong>before</strong> Item 1's Start_Date.</p>
  
  <p>After each Item is added, I want to go through the list of Items and Update all of the Priorities so they are integers, starting with the earliest Start_Date with a Priority =1, then 2, 3, etc. </p>
  
  <p>I am working with SQL 2005. I know I can do this with a cursor. Is there a better way? How so?</p>
  
  <p>Thank you.</p>