Articles

Technical Article

SQL Server 2005 Integration Services: Lessons from Project REAL

In Project REAL we are using large volumes of real data and scenarios from real companies to implement business intelligence systems using early releases of Microsoft SQL Server 2005. In the process, best practices are being developed and potential problems uncovered. This article reports some of the lessons learned while working on the data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) portion of the first phase of Project REAL.

2005-03-15

1,981 reads

External Article

The value of experienced coders

I was about 40 the first time I was told I should not continue coding. A well-meaning vice president at my company pulled me aside at a party and told me that I was getting too old to code. He had been a coder himself, knew that he was getting too old, and moved over to sales. He was sure that I should be moving over to another part of the business. I told him that perhaps not only did he have a problem coding when he reached 40, he probably had the same problem at 38. I said that I was perfectly happy as a coder, and had every intention of continuing as long as someone was willing to pay me.

2005-03-15

3,434 reads

SQLServerCentral Article

SQL Server DevCon 2005

New author Mike McCallum spent a week in London at the 2005 SQL Server DevCon conference. It's a smaller event than the PASS Summits, but if it fits your travel or schedule plans better, take a read and see what he thought. With training budgets tight and SQL Server 2005 bringing a completely new paradigm, knowing all your training options is a good thing.

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2005-03-14

3,509 reads

Technical Article

Automatically Utilizing XML's Untapped Semantic Goldmine

A mind is a terrible thing to waste and so is the vast quantity of untapped data structure meta information available free for the using in any XML document. This semantic data available in XML is like gold lying on the ground ready to be scooped up and cashed in with little or no effort. This is meta information that can be utilized immediately to significantly increase the value of the raw XML data. By automatically utilizing this valuable structure meta information, hierarchical fourth generation languages (4GLs) can nonprocedurally process XML's complex multi-leg hierarchical structure. This significantly increases the usefulness of the data and makes it immediately available for use at its enhanced value. This article describes the semantics of hierarchical data structures and how they can be automatically utilized by 4GLs.

2005-03-14

1,424 reads

SQLServerCentral Article

A DBXtra Discount!

SQLServerCentral.com tries to provide you a great deal of value for your subscription fees. We think we do a good job considering the $0 cost 🙂 One of the benefits we sometimes negotiate is a discount on products. DBXtra has generously offered a discount for the next few months, so read on and make your purchase today!

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2005-03-11

2,895 reads

Technical Article

Generate SQL Automatically Without Compromising Quality

Most database developers dread including such navigation features as paginated reports, hierarchical navigation, filtering, and full-text search because the amount of time they take to develop is not proportional to the utility or interest they create. In addition, connecting individual pages and controls to the database is mind-numbing work. Since writing SQL is non-trivial in any circumstance, it typically requires a specialist DBA's involvement.
..... As Web-based applications proliferate to bring more functionality directly to end-users, writing every SQL statement for every web-based application in your shop is likely to become a never-ending Sisyphean task for your DBA.

2005-03-10

2,209 reads

Technical Article

Using the Table Data Type in SQL Server 2000

Performing routine database maintenance such as reindexing is important for keeping your databases running at peak performance. When you use INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements to modify table data, indexes can become fragmented. Index fragmentation can happen when the logical sequence of pages is disrupted or when an index page contains less than its maximum amount of data, creating a gap in the data page or index. As indexes become fragmented, you get inefficient data reads when accessing tables and slower database performance.

2005-03-10

3,919 reads

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Question of the Day

Missing the Jaro Winkler Distance

I upgraded a SQL Server 2019 instance to SQL Server 2025. I wanted to test the fuzzy string search functions. I run this code: 

SELECT JARO_WINKLER_DISTANCE('tim', 'tom')
I get this error message:
Msg 195, Level 15, State 10, Line 1 'JARO_WINKLER_DISTANCE' is not a recognized built-in function name.
What is wrong?

See possible answers