Updating Data in SQL Server Cursors
Applies to: 
SQL Server
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Azure Synapse Analytics
Analytics Platform System (PDW)
When fetching and updating data through SQL Server cursors, an OLE DB Driver for SQL Server consumer application is bound by the same considerations and constraints that apply to any other client application.
Only rows in SQL Server cursors participate in concurrent data-access control. When the consumer requests a modifiable rowset, the concurrency control is controlled by DBPROP_LOCKMODE. To modify the level of concurrent access control, the consumer sets the DBPROP_LOCKMODE property before opening the rowset.
Transaction isolation levels can cause significant lags in row positioning if client application design lets transactions remain open for long periods of time. By default, the OLE DB Driver for SQL Server uses the read-committed isolation level specified by DBPROPVAL_TI_READCOMMITTED. The OLE DB Driver for SQL Server supports dirty read isolation when the rowset concurrency is read-only. Therefore, the consumer can request a higher level of isolation in a modifiable rowset but cannot request any lower level successfully.
Immediate and Delayed Update Modes
In immediate update mode, each call to IRowsetChange::SetData causes a round trip to the SQL Server. If the consumer makes multiple changes to a single row, it is more efficient to submit all changes with a single SetData call.
In delayed update mode, a roundtrip is made to the SQL Server for each row indicated in the cRows and rghRows parameters of IRowsetUpdate::Update.
In either mode, a roundtrip represents a distinct transaction when no transaction object is open for the rowset.
When you are using IRowsetUpdate::Update, the OLE DB Driver for SQL Server tries to process each indicated row. An error occurring because of invalid data, length, or status values for any row does not stop OLE DB Driver for SQL Server processing. All or none of the other rows participating in the update may be modified. The consumer must examine the returned prgRowStatus array to determine failure for any specific row when the OLE DB Driver for SQL Server returns DB_S_ERRORSOCCURRED.
A consumer should not assume that rows are processed in any specific order. If a consumer requires ordered processing of data modification over more than a single row, the consumer should establish that order in the application logic and open a transaction to enclose the process.