title: Forcing a query timeout in SQL Server
body: <p>We have had an issue with a block of code that responds poorly in the face of slow databases (It craps the bed on a query timeout). We have created a patch, and are in the process of running it through regression.</p>
  
  <p>We can't get a timeout. I've opened a transaction from SQL Mgmt Studio and updated every row to lock them, but that doesn't cause INSERTs to timeout (which is what I need).</p>
  
  <p>Can I get a table-level lock easily via T-SQL? Or do I have to fiddle around in master? Or can I easily force the timeout without locking? Any input is appreciated.</p>