Actual Difference Between EXISTS(SELECT 1 …), EXISTS(SELECT * …), and EXISTS(SELECT column …)

Is EXISTS(SELECT 1 ...) better than EXISTS(SELECT * ...)? Who would know better than SQL Server?… Continue reading Actual Difference Between EXISTS(SELECT 1 …), EXISTS(SELECT * …), and EXISTS(SELECT...

sys.xp_delete_files and ‘allow filesystem enumeration’: two new undocumented items in SQL Server 2019

sys.xp_delete_files and 'allow filesystem enumeration': two new undocumented items in SQL Server 2019… Continue reading sys.xp_delete_files and ‘allow filesystem enumeration’: two new undocumented items in SQL Server 2019 ?

How Many Bytes Per Character in SQL Server: a Completely Complete Guide

A Completely Complete Guide to how many bytes are used to represent characters in the T-SQL string datatypes… Continue reading How Many Bytes Per Character in SQL Server: a...

Stairway to SQLCLR Level 2: Sample Stored Procedure and Function

In the second level of our Stairway to SQLCLR, we look at how to enable the SQLCLR in SQL Server. We then build an assembly, store procedure, and a function that can be called from your T-SQL code.

Feature Restrictions in SQL Server 2019 are Worse Than Useless: a False Sense of Security And Wasted Opportunity

A misguided attempt to improve security that not only increases the chances of SQL Injection, but also prevented useful changes from being made.… Continue reading Feature Restrictions in...

Specific String Pattern Magically Hidden From Step Output in SQL Agent History

Specific String Pattern Magically Hidden From Step Output in SQL Agent History. Who Knew?… Continue reading Specific String Pattern Magically Hidden From Step Output in SQL Agent History ?

Maximum Number of Rows for the Table Value Constructor

What is the maximum number of rows for the Table Value Constructor? And, do different uses of it behave differently?… Continue reading Maximum Number of Rows for the Table...

Error -2068643839 / 1602 Installing msoledbsql.msi and msodbcsql.msi for SQL Server 2019 CTP 2.5

(last updated: 2019-05-05 @ 11:55 EST / 2019-05-05 @ 15:55 UTC ) I had gone through the process of uninstalling the now obsolete SQL Server 2019 CTP, and then...

Can a Certificate’s Private Key be Imported / Restored From a Binary Literal / Hex Bytes ?

(last updated: 2019-04-22 @ 13:00 EST / 2019-04-22 @ 17:00 UTC ) SQL Server 2012 introduced a significant improvement to CREATE CERTIFICATE: the ability to import a certificate —...

Uppercase All String Columns (and in a Single Query!)

(last updated: 2019-03-21 @ 15:00 EST / 2019-03-21 @ 19:00 UTC )

Intro
The other day, Steve Jones published a short post with a quick...