Grant Fritchey

Grant Fritchey is a SQL Server MVP with over 20 years’ experience in IT including time spent in support and development. Grant has worked with SQL Server since version 6.0 back in 1995. He has developed in VB, VB.Net, C# and Java. Grant has authored books for Apress and Simple-Talk, and joined Red Gate as a Product Advocate in January 2011. Find Grant on Twitter @GFritchey or on his blog as the Scary DBA.

SQLServerCentral Editorial

Planning for the Right Emergency Response

I'm currently testing a pair of POC radios <editor: can no one shut him up about the radios?> No, go away. So, where was I, oh yeah, POC radios. What are they, I hear you asking. <editor: no one asked that> Hush. Push-to-talk Over Cellular. POC or PoC. In short, you get a SIM card […]

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2025-07-28

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SQLServerCentral Editorial

Life's Little Frustrations

As with others, I've had to deal with death in the family recently. Some other family members are dealing with cancer (a few friends too). Happily none of us has recently been a disaster zone, but that's happened too. So yeah, big, nasty scary stuff happens in life. However, for most of us, most of […]

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2025-07-19

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SQLServerCentral Editorial

Databases and Disasters

I was just reading about how the Philippines are working to update their databases in support of faster and better responses in the case of an emergency. While I do volunteer for some of the local emergency services, I'm right at the bottom of the heap as just a radio operator. I don't have any […]

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2025-07-18

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SQLServerCentral Editorial

People Make Odd Choices

One of my favorite things about going to in-person events is just the time when we're sitting around chatting, out in the hallway, over at the vendor booths, maybe in the speaker room. Any of them. Inevitably, you start to get what I would call "sea stories" (Navy & Coasties, "war stories" for the pickles, […]

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2025-07-14

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SQLServerCentral Editorial

The Long Weekend

In the US, this is the Independence Day weekend. I had a few spare vacation days, so I tacked one on, making this a four day weekend. My plans are simple. Prep for my family coming over on the 5th for a celebration of the 4th (Ha!). Work on my query tuning book (gotta make […]

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2025-07-05

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SQLServerCentral Editorial

Own Your Mistakes

Hello, Grant again as Steve is on sabbatical. My evenings and weekends are currently being used to update my SQL Server query performance book for 2025. I really enjoy it because writing the book forces me to structure my learning on SQL Server 2025, not just hit it in some slipshod manner. Plus, I've got […]

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2025-07-04

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SQLServerCentral Editorial

Filling Big Shoes

Hey all! It's me, Grant. For those who don't me, Grant Fritchey. I work with Steve Jones, the person normally talking to you here. Yes, Redgate actually employs me, and continues to. I don't know why either. Anyway, Steve is off for a few weeks on his sabbatical. More power to him and I hope […]

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2025-07-02

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Question of the Day

Fixing the Error

On SQL Server 2025, I have a database that has this collation: SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS. I decide I want to run this code:

SELECT UNISTR('*3041*308A*304C*3068 and good night', '*') AS 'A Classic';
I get this error:Msg 9844, Level 16, State 4, Line 24 The char/varchar input type uses an unsupported collation. Only a UTF8 collation is supported with char/varchar input type in UNISTR function.What is the easiest way to fix this error?

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