Additional Articles


External Article

Temporary Tables in SQL Server

Temporary tables are used by every DB developer, but they're not likely to be too adventurous with their use, or exploit all their advantages. They can improve your code's performance and maintainability, but can be the source of grief to both developer and DBA if things go wrong and a process grinds away inexorably slowly. We asked Phil Factor for advice, thinking that it would be a simple explanation.

2011-09-22

6,511 reads

External Article

Statistics on Ascending Columns

It comes as rather a shock to find out that one of the commonest circumstances in an OLTP database, an ascending primary key with most querying on the latest records, can throw the judgement of the Query Optimiser to the extent that perfomance nose-dives. Fabiano Amorim once again dons snorkel and goggles to explore the murky depths of execution plans to find out why.

2011-09-16

2,528 reads

Technical Article

Adding Custom Code to the Reporting Services 2008 R2

There are numerous circumstances when we wish to add a custom function to a SSRS report in order to cater for needs of the customer which exceeds the capability of the built-in functions in SSRS. In these scenarios we will have to write our own functions. In this article you will see how to add custom code to SSRS.

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2011-09-15

3,644 reads

Technical Article

SQL Server Index Statistics

Are your index statistics up to date? The SQL Server database engine uses statistics to determine which execution plan to use when a query is compiled. Index statistics are used to help the SQL Server engine determine the cardinality of different column values in a SQL Server table. If you want to give SQL Server a fighting chance at picking an optimal execution plan then you need to make sure you maintain your index statistics.

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2011-09-14

3,901 reads

External Article

The SQL Server Query Optimizer

To understand how to write SQL code for SQL Server that performs well, it is important to appreciate how the query optimizer works. Ben Nevarez explains the essentials, in a broad sweep through a complex subject, in an article taken from his new book 'Inside the SQL Server Query Optimizer'.

2011-09-09

4,876 reads

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BIT_COUNT() IV

By Steve Jones - SSC Editor

Comments posted to this topic are about the item BIT_COUNT() IV

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Question of the Day

BIT_COUNT() IV

In SQL Server 2025, I run this code:

select bit_count('A')
What is returned?

See possible answers