Home Forums SQL Server 7,2000 T-SQL What is your favorite "I didn't know that" moment in T-SQL? RE: What is your favorite "I didn't know that" moment in T-SQL?

  • August 9, 2013 at 11:44 am

    #1640224

    Sean Lange (8/9/2013)

    Jeff Moden (8/8/2013)

    Sean Lange (8/8/2013)

    I can still remember one of those Eureka moments. I was reading a post from Wayne Sheffield and he explained that in order to understand set programming in sql you need to "stop thinking about what you want to do to a row and instead think about what you want to do to a column". Not sure I got the quote exactly right but for whatever reason that flipped a switch in my brain and it all became clear.

    I believe Mr. Sheffield was quoting me in that post. Please see my signature line. 🙂

    Or maybe I just gave the credit to the wrong person. It was several years ago so I very well have remembered it wrong. It is certainly possible that it was just from reading your signature. Regardless of where I first I heard it, the concept made a huge impact on me. So a big thanks Jeff!!!

    Heh... it was actually a huge Eureka moment for me, as well. It definitely made thinking in sets easier.

    --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)