• ReadPast = skip locked rows. Also rather bad for accurate results. Find for stuff like dashboards or areas where close to accurate is good enough

    If you're having problems with blocking, I recommend tuning queries as a first step and one of the snapshot isolation levels as the second step if still necessary.

    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