Database users can become orphaned for a few reasons. For example, a database restore to another instance or deleting the corresponding SQL login would have the effect of leaving a database user orphaned. Development/testing SQL servers may also experience this due to the number of ad-hoc updates that may occur… Read more

I know that this subject has been blogged about numerous times but I thought I'd post an alternative way of shredding a comma separated string to a table that I come up with today, albeit with help from the very clever Itzik Ban-Gan cross join nested CTE that many of… Read more

Database users can become orphaned for a few reasons. For example, a database restore to another instance or deleting the corresponding SQL login would have the effect of leaving a database user orphaned. Development/testing SQL servers may also experience this due to the number of ad-hoc updates that may occur… Read more

I came across this really simple best practice from BOL for the xml method exist which when used will give you a much cleaner and faster query plan. If like me you commonly use the name of an element or attribute as part of an XQuery predicate, then you would… Read more

Is all set to be officially known as SQL 2012 and will be finally released in....... 2012!

Announced at the PASS Summit 2011, it is due to be released to manufactoring in the first half of next year.

The other major announcement from PASS was Microsoft actively supporting the Hadoop… Read more

SQLBits9 – “Query across the Mersey” was held in the majestic Adelphi hotel. This was my first SQLBits experience and was fortunate enough to be able to attend all three days. I was not disappointed! Walking through the main door and up the stairs into the main conference hall, I… Read more