The Stairway Series
SQLServerCentral launches a new series of content today, aimed at helping you bootstrap your knowledge in specific areas of SQL Server.
2011-02-17
2,784 reads
Articles
StreamInsight: A new way to think about analyzing data
Last night’s Oregon SQL user
group meeting was very enlightening. Mark Simms form the SQLCAT team came
down from Redmond to talk...
2011-02-17
1,251 reads
Using SQL Server Integration Services and StreamInsight Together
The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance
for enriching data integration scenarios by integrating StreamInsight with SQL
Server Integration Services. Specifically, we looked at the technical challenges
and solutions for such integration, by using a case study based on a customer
scenarios in the telecommunications sector.
2011-02-17
2,719 reads
MDX Performance - burdens of IIF
I used to think naively that IIF is an innocent little function that can only do good and help me...
2011-02-16
3,109 reads
Working with SQL Server Profiler Trace Files
In a previous tip we looked at the steps to Create a Trace Template in Profiler. In this tip we will look at a few more tips such as creating a trace template from an existing trace file and saving a trace file to a SQL Server table.
2011-02-16
4,352 reads
Understanding Indexes
This article contains an introduction to SQL Server indexes and how they are used in your queries.
2011-02-15
23,336 reads
SQL Server: Natural Key Versus Surrogate Key
When designing a database to support applications you need to consider how you are going to handle primary keys. This article explores natural and surrogate keys, and discusses the pros and cons of each, allowing you to determine what makes the best sense in your environment when you are designing your databases.
2011-02-15
5,434 reads
Windows Instant File Initialization and SQL Server
One Windows setting that I think is extremely important for SQL Server usage is the “Perform volume maintenance tasks” right,...
2011-02-15
1,312 reads
An In-Depth Examination of Red Gate SQL Monitor
A review of SQL Monitor, the new DBA utility from Red Gate Software that can help you keep an eye on what your SQL Server instances are doing.
2011-02-14
3,826 reads
Avoid External Dependencies in SQL Server Triggers
I sometimes want to perform auditing or other actions in a trigger based on some criteria. More specifically, there are a few cases that may warrant an e-mail; for example, if a web sale takes place that requires custom or overnight shipping and handling. It is tempting to just add code to the trigger that sends an e-mail when these criteria are met. But this can be problematic for two reasons: (1) your users are waiting for that processing to occur, and (2) if you can't send the e-mail, how do you decide whether or not to roll back the transaction, and how do you bring the problem to the attention of the administrator?
2011-02-14
2,819 reads
Blogs
Future IT Roles – Agentic Architect and AI Boom!!
By Vinay Thakur
These days everything is changing to AI World, IT roles are getting changed and...
Free Webinar about Columnstore Indexes
I’m doing a small series on indexing basics for SQL Server, and on May...
PlanTrace: Stop Reading Redshift EXPLAIN Plans. Start Seeing Them
PlanTrace: Stop Reading Redshift EXPLAIN Plans. Start Seeing Them Introducing PlanTrace — a free, browser-based...
Forums
SPAM Issues May 2026
We suffered a SPAM attack from May 1-6, which unfortunately corresponded with time off...
SQL Password enforcing
Hi to all We have situation at a client where someone is illegally changing...
SQL Password enforcing
Hi to all We have situation at a client where someone is illegally changing...
Question of the Day
Creating a JSON Document III
I have this data in a table called dbo.NFLTeams
TeamID TeamName City YearEstablished ------ -------- ---- --------------- 1 Cowboys Dallas 1960 2 Eagles Philadelphia 1933 3 Packers Green Bay 1919 4 Chiefs Kansas City 1960 5 49ers San Francisco 1946 6 Broncos Denver 1960 7 Seahawks Seattle 1976 8 Patriots New England 1960If I run this code, how many rows are returned?
SELECT TOP 2
json_objectagg('Team' : TeamName)
FROM dbo.NFLTeams;
See possible answers