SQLWorks (10/21/2012)
He did say "dirty read is no problem at all"...
Yes, but in my experience most people who say that don't realise what that means. It's not just a case where the report might show old values for a row that's just been updated, that is the least of the anomalies that nolock can cause.
I had an architect who maintained that position and insisted on nolock on all reports, until I showed him a report that had 3 of a particular client's transactions duplicated on the report, resulting in the total being out by around 40%.
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