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The SQL Server Date Magic: When CAST and CONVERT Keep Your Index Seek

Dhananjay Chaudhari from SQLServerCentral

This article shows two scenarios, tested independently, with the full scripts and the real numbers from each run.

Explanation of SQL Server IO and Latches

Additional Articles from MSSQLTips.com

I eventually found an explanation for this error message that, while not completely satisfactory, did lead me to diagnose wider-reaching I/O issues on the affected instance and led me to a better understanding of latching in general.

Take the 2027 State of the Database Landscape Survey

Press Release from SQLServerCentral

Share your view on the database landscape and you could win USD$500.

SQL Server 2025 Unveiled: The AI-Ready Enterprise Database with Microsoft Fabric Integration

Site Owners from SQLServerCentral

With built-in AI for application development and advanced analytics powered by Microsoft Fabric, SQL Server 2025 empowers you to innovate—securely and confidently. This book shows you how.

Question of the Day

Today's question (by Steve Jones - SSC Editor):
	Hyperscale Replicas IV
In Azure SQL Database Hyperscale Edition, how many geo-replicas can be created?
Think you know the answer? Click here, and find out if you are right.

Yesterday's Question of the Day (by Steve Jones - SSC Editor)

Using CHOOSE()

We have this code that sets some status values and then queries them using the CHOOSE() function in SQL Server 2025.

CREATE TABLE Status
(
    StatusID INT,
    StatusDescription VARCHAR(20)
);
GO
INSERT dbo.Status
(
    StatusID,
    StatusDescription
)
VALUES
(0, 'Uncategorized'),
(1, 'Active'),
(2, 'Inactive'),
(3, 'Temp');

GO
SELECT CHOOSE(StatusID, 'Unknown', 'Active', 'Inactive', 'Temporary')
FROM Status;

When the SELECT runs, what is returned?

Answer: Four rows, with a NULL, then Unknown, Active, Inactive

Explanation: CHOOSE() is an 1-index based function, so it expects 1, 2, 3, etc. as the values. This means that the 0 returns a NULL as the value is unknown. 1, 2, 3 in the Status table return the next 3 values in the statement. The 4th value, Temp, is not returned. Ref: CHOOSE() - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/functions/logical-functions-choose-transact-sql?view=sql-server-ver17

Discuss this question and answer on the forums

Database Pros Who Need Your Help

Here's a few of the new posts today on the forums. To see more, visit the forums.

SQL Server 2016 - Development and T-SQL

Force join by longest possible choice - Title pretty much says it. I want to join to a table that has entries like Sand and Sandstone, or Chert and Chert with striations. The table I am join to has these expressions as the leading text in a longer text field, so I am joining with trailing wildcards. If my table has the […]

Editorials

Risk Vs Reward, The never ending ROI discussion. - Comments posted to this topic are about the item Risk Vs Reward, The never ending ROI discussion., which is is not currently available on the site.

The DBA is Dead! Long Live the ! - Comments posted to this topic are about the item The DBA is Dead! Long Live the !

It's Never Just One Thing - Comments posted to this topic are about the item It's Never Just One Thing

Let's Talk Certifications - Comments posted to this topic are about the item Let's Talk Certifications

Article Discussions by Author

Hyperscale Replicas IV - Comments posted to this topic are about the item Hyperscale Replicas IV

The SQL Server Date Magic: When CAST and CONVERT Keep Your Index Seek - Comments posted to this topic are about the item The SQL Server Date Magic: When CAST and CONVERT Keep Your Index Seek

Using CHOOSE() - Comments posted to this topic are about the item Using CHOOSE()

Re-Seeding a Broken Log Shipping Secondary (Without Touching the Primary) - Comments posted to this topic are about the item Re-Seeding a Broken Log Shipping Secondary (Without Touching the Primary)

Calculating Min-Max Normalization in PowerBI - Comments posted to this topic are about the item Calculating Min-Max Normalization in PowerBI

Checking the Error Log III - Comments posted to this topic are about the item Checking the Error Log III

The Hidden Security Risks of Role Combination in SSAS Tabular - Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Hidden Security Risks of Role Combination in SSAS Tabular

The Empty Aggregate - Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Empty Aggregate

SQL Server 2022 - Administration

Anyone knows where to download SQLexpress edition for 2022 - Where to download earlier version of SQL server express 2022? Thanks

SSL/TLS Cert Validity Periods Decreasing - Hi, to all of you who are using CA certs on SQL Server boxes to avoid the need to check that pesky 'Trust Server Certificate' box. It seems there is an industry-wide agreement to shorten the validity period of these certs, down to just 47 days in 2029: Shorter validity periods coming for SSL/TLS certificates: […]

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