Query execution not showing up in profiler trace

  • Set up a trace with the events RPC:Completed, SQL:BatchCompleted, SQL:BatchStarting, and SQL:StmtCompleted.

    When I issue the statement: SELECT * FROM XyzView there is nothing captured in Profiler. If I script out the view and then execute the select statement that defines the view, it does show up in Profiler.

    I've tried adding a lot of the other events, i.e. SP:StmtCompleted and the various other StmtStarting events and the trace still does not capture anything.

    Am I capturing the wrong events or is this known behavior? My goal is to see what the overhead is for using a view versus persisting the results of the view as a table and referencing that instead. The view in question is against static data, joins 9 tables, and is referenced a lot.

    I can use the stats generated when I execute the select that defines the view but I still find this to be curious behavior so I assume I'm doing something wrong.

    "Beliefs" get in the way of learning.

  • You should absolutely see a command like:

    SELECT * FROM HumanResources.vEmployee AS ve

    within a server side trace if you're capturing SQL:BatchStarting. The only reason you wouldn't see that command is because you've filtered it out by choosing to only capture events from a particular database or user or something else. Double check the filter definitions.

    Be extremely cautious capturing statements. That's going to generate a lot of data and possibly a large load on your server.

    Also, since you're posting this in the 2012 forum, I have to say, you should be using extended events, not trace. They're much more lightweight, there are lot more of them, their filtering works better, and, you have a GUI in 2012 to consume the data easily unlike in 2008.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • Is it possible you have some filtering set for the trace results?

    I've tested this against a view and can see results for SQL:StmtStarting/Completed and SQL:BatchStarting/Completed events.

  • I have one filter to include my specific database name, i.e. LIKE 'DatabaseName' and I'm running this against a dev machine remotely. (I'll look at extended events as I haven't tried that capability yet.) Obviously the filter works as I am seeing events captured when I execute just the SELECT that defines the view but not if I SELECT * directly from the view.

    Grant Fritchey (8/22/2014)


    You should absolutely see a command like:

    SELECT * FROM HumanResources.vEmployee AS ve

    within a server side trace if you're capturing SQL:BatchStarting. The only reason you wouldn't see that command is because you've filtered it out by choosing to only capture events from a particular database or user or something else. Double check the filter definitions.

    Be extremely cautious capturing statements. That's going to generate a lot of data and possibly a large load on your server.

    Also, since you're posting this in the 2012 forum, I have to say, you should be using extended events, not trace. They're much more lightweight, there are lot more of them, their filtering works better, and, you have a GUI in 2012 to consume the data easily unlike in 2008.

    "Beliefs" get in the way of learning.

  • Robert Frasca (8/22/2014)


    I have one filter to include my specific database name, i.e. LIKE 'DatabaseName'

    There's the problem.

    Take that filter out, the event will then show up and you can look at what is (or is not) populated for the Database Name column to see why

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • GilaMonster (8/22/2014)


    Robert Frasca (8/22/2014)


    I have one filter to include my specific database name, i.e. LIKE 'DatabaseName'

    There's the problem.

    Take that filter out, the event will then show up and you can look at what is (or is not) populated for the Database Name column to see why

    I'm with Gail. I suspect something is up from the filter because the events fire just fine. I'm not just saying it. I went and validated that it worked as expected prior to posting (I'm paranoid that way).

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • Add % before and after the filter in the trace, as well.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • If I remove all the filters the SQL:BatchCompleted event is captured for the database for which I was originally filtering.

    When I add the database name filter back in it is now continuing to capture the event.

    I hate random stuff like this. I know I didn't make a typo in the original filter because all of the other queries against that database were being captured except queries into views, any view. Now it's working just fine. I've been using Profiler since it first appeared (SQL Server 7 or SQL Sever 2000 ?) and I've never seen anything like this.

    Thanks for your help.

    "Beliefs" get in the way of learning.

  • Quick thought, since you are (I think) on SQL 2012, why not use Extended Events?

    😎

  • Figured it out I think. I was right-clicking the view name and clicking SELECT TOP 1000 ROWS so it opens a new query window and runs it in the context of my default database "master". That must be the Database Name that is filtered on by Profiler rather than the fully qualified database name referenced in the query. If I change the default database to my database name and run the query again, it's picked up by Profiler.

    Makes sense I guess...need to think about it a little more particularly for queries that run against multiple databases and/or linked servers. I'm a little surprised I've never noticed that behavior before. Oh well, always nice to learn something new.

    "Beliefs" get in the way of learning.

  • Robert Frasca (8/22/2014)


    That must be the Database Name that is filtered on by Profiler rather than the fully qualified database name referenced in the query.

    That's exactly what it's doing. The DatabaseName is the database context, not any one of the possibly multiple databases referenced in the query.

    Also, some events populate the database ID but not the name, or at least they used to. Safer to filter on the database ID than name

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • GilaMonster (8/22/2014)


    Robert Frasca (8/22/2014)


    That must be the Database Name that is filtered on by Profiler rather than the fully qualified database name referenced in the query.

    That's exactly what it's doing. The DatabaseName is the database context, not any one of the possibly multiple databases referenced in the query.

    Also, some events populate the database ID but not the name, or at least they used to. Safer to filter on the database ID than name

    Or just move to extended events and get rid of all the pain.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

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