Database Nonsense - Unstructured Data
Sloppy terminology leads to big misunderstandings. Terms don't get much sloppier than "Unstructured data".
2016-10-25
599 reads
Don Peterson
Is XML the Answer?
New Author! Don Peterson writes his first article for us and explores why he considers XML to be...bad! There are some interesting points made here and if you've haven't thought about what XML means to you as a DBA, it's a subject worth spending some time on.
2008-05-02 (first published: 2003-10-07)
64,781 reads
Thoughts on the PASS Summit
The 2007 PASS Summit is coming up in September and you can register early and save now, but is it worth going? Longtime author and successful DBA Don Peterson brings us a few thoughts on last year's Summit and the benefits of attending.
2007-02-19
1,905 reads
Beware of Search Argument (SARG) Data Types
Performance tuning often seems like it can be more of an art than a science. However there are a number of fundamentals that can help you tune most of the queries that you will write or have issues with their performance. Don Peterson brings us a look at how he tuned a query in the real world to avoid a conversion that can cause a query to run slower.
2006-07-13
11,872 reads
Lookup Table Madness
Are you mad? Not angry, more like crazy when it comes to designing databases in SQL Server? Don Peterson has met a few people he thinks are just that when it comes to building lookup tables. Does it stem from poor understanding of database design? Or do you disagree? Read Don's case against this particular design practice.
2006-03-24 (first published: 2004-09-08)
52,527 reads
All About Transactions - Part 3
Transactions in SQL Server are probably no more complicated than those in other RDBMS products, which is to say they are fairly complex. Don Peterson continues with part 3 of his series and takes a look at transaction isolation levels and how they interact with multiple connections and their impact on locking.
2004-12-02
15,950 reads
All About Transactions - Part 2
Transactions in SQL Server can be very complicated, and are often misunderstood. Don Peterson brings us part 2 of his series on transactions. This part deals with XACT_ABORT, compilation errors and error handling in transactions.
2004-11-24
19,733 reads
All About Transactions - Part 1
The heart of an RDBMS is the transaction system that it employs. SQL Server has a great one that can easily be misunderstood or misused by those that haven't spent time delving into the details of how it works. Don Peterson has done that and brings us the start of a new series on the details of how transactions work in SQL Server.
2004-11-15
25,009 reads
Blogs
KDA: Echoes of Deception - Case 7
By Zikato
A fugitive cyber-criminal, a wingsuit, and 24 million flight records. Somewhere between Doha and...
Do This Before You Contact Your SQL Server Consultant
Say you need outside help. You’ve exhausted all the things that you could do...
Microsoft MVP 2026: Ten Years on the Data Platform
I’m honored to announce that I’ve been renewed as a Microsoft MVP for the...
Forums
Implicit Conversions Cripple SQL Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Implicit Conversions Cripple SQL Server
BIT_COUNT() III
Comments posted to this topic are about the item BIT_COUNT() III
The Mythical Bus Accident
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Mythical Bus Accident
Question of the Day
BIT_COUNT() III
In SQL Server 2025, I run this code:
select bit_count(-1)What is returned? See possible answers