Performance Myths : Oversizing string columns
Aaron Bertrand shows a quick demo that illustrates why you should be very careful about oversizing varchar / nvarchar columns.
2017-08-02
8,420 reads
Additional Articles
How to Generate a Restore Script
There are multiple ways to accomplish a database restore. But if you wanted to restore a database from a script how might you accomplish that task quickly and accurately?
2017-08-01
4,704 reads
Query Store and Parameterization Problems
The query store gives us a novel way of identifying those queries that are causing performance problems when they are parameterized by SQL Server for reuse. Although it is relatively simple to ensure that certain troublesome queries avoid the problem, it is laborious to identify these queries. Additionally, Query Store gives us the means to fix the problem for groups of queries by means of plan guides without changing the DDL at all. Dennes Torres explains the details
2017-07-31
5,234 reads
Getting Started with SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB
Developers using SQL Server Express face a few challenges in their day to day work. One is that setting up and maintaining Express can be a daunting task.
2017-07-28
5,168 reads
Statistics in SQL: The Kruskal–Wallis Test
Before you report your conclusions about your data, have you checked whether your 'actionable' figures occurred by chance? The Kruskal-Wallis test is a safe way of determining whether samples come from the same population, because it is simple and doesn't rely on a normal distribution in the population. This allows you a measure of confidence that your results are 'significant'. Phil Factor explains how to do it.
2017-07-27
6,123 reads
How to Read the Transaction Log File
Have you ever wanted to be able to see the actual transactions that are contained in the transaction log file? Greg Larsen shows you how to browse the transaction log using an undocumented function.
2017-07-26
5,228 reads
The Basics of Good T-SQL Coding Style – Part 2: Defining Database Objects
Technical debt is a real problem in database development, where corners have been cut in the rush to keep to dates. The result may work but the problems are in the details: such things as inconsistent naming of objects, or of defining columns; sloppy use of data types, archaic syntax or obsolete system functions. With databases, technical debt is even harder to pay back. Robert Sheldon explains how and why you can get it right first time instead.
2017-07-25
5,860 reads
Testing DML Statements for In-Memory OLTP
Erin Stellato takes a thorough look at the way DML statements might benefit from In-Memory OLTP, especially with natively compiled stored procedures.
2017-07-24
4,663 reads
SQL Server User-Defined Functions
User-Defined Functions (UDFs) are an essential part of the database developers' armoury. They are extraordinarily versatile, but just because you can even use scalar UDFs in WHERE clauses, computed columns and check constraints doesn't mean that you should. Multi-statement UDFs come at a cost and it is good to understand all the restrictions and potential drawbacks. Phil Factor gives an overview of User-defined functions: their virtues, vices and their syntax.
2017-07-21
5,686 reads
Find Database Connection Leaks in Your Application
Michael Swart shows how to investigate and fix database connection leaks, an application issue that can lead to connection timeouts.
2017-07-20
4,604 reads
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SQL Password enforcing
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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;
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