<div>
Hello gdemaria 
 
Please provide expected output. We also need information about aFunction? 
 
Vaibhav
</div>

<div>
What version of SQL Server 
 
If after 2008 then you can use window functions in aggregates : 
 
sum(Column) over (partition by .... Order by ... ) as running_total 
 
Otherwise, you can link back on itself to get sum(Values) &lt;&nbsp;date 
 
Shouldnt need cursor, but, might be some kind of recursion in the worst case
</div>

<div>
OK, still need clarification, but in the meantime.... 
 
A couple of examples of the types of ways which it might be accommodated : 
 
And please note they are just purely examples, wont be able to provide a real solution until you clarify some of the requests for information above... 
 

<pre><code class="code-10 nolinks" id="code-20-42406561-1">select t.Entity_Field
 , t.Date_Field
 , t.Numeric_Value
 , sum(t.Numeric_Value) over (partition by t.Entity_Field order by t.Date_Field) as running_total
from my_table T
order by 1,2,3
Go

-- Next we do a more traditional (?) link back with a unique row_number identifier

;with my_running_totals as
(select *, row_number() over (order by Entity_Field,Date_Field ) as rn
 from my_table)
select t.Entity_Field, t.Date_Field, t.Numeric_Value, sum(r.Numeric_Value) as running_total
from my_running_totals t
inner join my_running_totals r on r.Entity_Field = t.Entity_Field and r.rn &lt;= t.rn
group by t.Entity_Field, t.Date_Field, t.Numeric_Value
order by 1,2,3
</code></pre>
</div>

<div>
Thank you for the responses! 
I have SQL Server 2012 Web Edition. 
 
aFunction () &nbsp;is a placeholder for a function that we wrote, it returns a value 
 
The hard part, the way I see it, is that the next value must be based on the previous value, which has not been determned until the script is run. 
 
As an example. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;RunningValue 
1. &nbsp; 100 
2 &nbsp; &nbsp; NULL 
3 &nbsp; &nbsp; NULL 
4 &nbsp; &nbsp; NULL 
 
start with 100 
calculate &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;= &nbsp;100 + constant + ( 1.5 * aFunction(rand())) &nbsp; say the result is 112. 
so #2 becomes 112, now that it is populated, calculate #3 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
calculate &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;= &nbsp;112+ constant + ( 1.5 * aFunction(rand())) &nbsp; say the result is 130 
so #3 becomes 130, now we calculate #4 
calculate &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;= &nbsp;130+ constant + ( 1.5 * aFunction(rand())) &nbsp; say the result is 124 &nbsp;(yes it can drop) 
so #3 becomes 124.... continue... 
 
Thanks for any additional insights!
</div>

<div>
Hmmm... might be right about a cursor. Seems to be very much RBAR (row by agonising row) 
 
A recursive CTE is an option 
 
But dont mind the challenge :) In the voice of Arnie &quot;I'll be back&quot;
</div>

<div>
Thank you Mark &nbsp;:) &nbsp; 
 
I can use a cursor if you don't have time..
</div>

<div>
Thanks Mark- I really appreciate your efforts and advice. &nbsp;All set with Cursor, just trying to avoid it / learn something new if it existed
</div>

<div>
A pleasure, and thank you for the challenge. 
 
Truth be known, cursors are very hard to beat in the right hands for RBAR solutions. 
 
So, wouldn't necessarily cave into a thought process that cursors are evil. Even MS have been known to use cursors :)
</div>

<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
I think I need a cursor for this, but just wanted to check to see if any new features would make this possible. 
 
I have a table with a date and a value, the value ends with the rest null. 
I'd like to fetch the 1000 initial value and do some math on it, then save that result into the next record (1/2) and then take that value and do some math and save it to the next record and so on.. 
 
Update myTable 
&nbsp; &nbsp;set &nbsp;value = &nbsp;(previousTotal + column2 * aFunction( rand() ) ) 
 
Date ... &nbsp; Value 
1/1 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1000 
1/2 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; NULL 
1/3 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; NULL 
1/4 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; NULL 
 
Cursor required?
</div>
</div>

I think I need a cursor for this, but just wanted to check to see if any new features would make this possible.

I have a table with a date and a value, the value ends with the rest null.
I'd like to fetch the 1000 initial value and do some math on it, then save that result into the next record (1/2) and then take that value and do some math and save it to the next record and so on..

Update myTable
   set  value =  (previousTotal + column2 * aFunction( rand() ) )

Date ...   Value
1/1         1000
1/2         NULL
1/3         NULL
1/4         NULL

Cursor required?

SQL Server Running Balance

Microsoft SQL Server is a suite of relational database management system (RDBMS) products providing multi-user database access functionality.SQL Server is available in multiple versions, typically identified by release year, and versions are subdivided into editions to distinguish between product functionality. Component services include integration (SSIS), reporting (SSRS), analysis (SSAS), data quality, master data, T-SQL and performance tuning.

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL (Structured Query Language) is designed to be used in conjunction with relational database products as of a means of working with sets of data. SQL consists of data definition, data manipulation, and procedural elements. Its scope includes data insert, query, update and delete, schema creation and modification, and data access control.