The 'Det' set  of Batch Updates haven't been properly documented.   They  were originally written to meet the  requirements of a specific user and were made generally available in case they might be of use. All are aimed at assisting with the management of imported data and went with a  document  on managing data exchange which never got published.  The way users manage their data varies considerably so probaby the main use of these updates is to provide example of what can be done and to demonstrate some of the techniques involved. 

Of the other Batch Updates many are associated with the management of Taxon Designations and the use of these is fully documented.  I think what most of the others do is self explanatory, but this might need looking into further.

As a first step anyone needing a Batch Update to carry out a specific task should put the request on the forum. In many cases there will already be something available which will meet the requirement or which can easily be adapted to do so.  I think most past requests have been met.

All Batch Updates need to be designed and used with care. A backup should always be taken before any changes are made and  the results checked carefully before further data is entered.
 
As far as your specific requirement is concerned, I don't think there is anything particularly wrong in creating a new determination for every record, which is what the batch update you mention would do, but this doesn't achieve anything useful in the situation you describe and increases the database size for no good reason.  To make the change you require  you need to change the detemination type on the taxon determination and to bring the  verified indicator on taxon occurrence into line  with the chosen determination type.  If you need a Batch Update or any help with the SQL to do this let me know.

I think this may be of some help - I do a similar thing with our county datasets (that is set the determination to "correct" after import from MapMate). It updates all determinations within a survey.

(use at own risk, etc. etc.)

UPDATE Taxon_Determination
SET Determination_Type_Key = 'NBNSYS0000000007'
WHERE Taxon_Determination_Key IN (SELECT TD.Taxon_Determination_Key
                                  FROM Survey AS SV
                                  INNER JOIN Survey_Event SE ON SE.Survey_Key = SV.Survey_Key
                                  INNER JOIN Sample S ON S.Survey_Event_Key = SE.Survey_Event_Key
                                  INNER JOIN Taxon_Occurrence TOCC ON TOCC.Sample_key = S.Sample_Key
                                  INNER JOIN Taxon_Determination TD ON TD.Taxon_Occurrence_Key = TOCC.Taxon_Occurrence_Key
                                  WHERE SV.Survey_Key = 'SR0003510000002P')

To get the verified indicators in line with your determination types you will also need to run

Update Taxon_Occurrence set verified = Determination_Type.Verified
FROM Taxon_Determination TDET
INNER JOIN Taxon_Occurrence TOCC ON TOCC.Taxon_Occurrence_key = TDET.taxon_Occurrence_key
INNER JOIN Determination_Type
ON Determination_Type.Determination_Type_Key = TDET.Determination_Type_key

David