How to prevent blocking in your SQL Server database
As a SQL Server DBA, usually the largest databases in size and in number of users that I had to manage was an ERP...
2011-09-12
844 reads
James Serra's Blog
Using a Display Folder for a SSAS calculation
I was having a problem getting the display folder to work for a calculation in SSAS. Turns out, it will...
2011-09-09
1,393 reads
Thinking about taking a contract position? Questions to ask
Over the years, I have accumulated a set of questions that I usually ask the placement firm about a contract position...
2011-09-07
1,168 reads
System Center and Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010
Because the relationship between application development and the IT operations teams is critical, Microsoft has released a CTP of a new...
2011-09-06
1,094 reads
Preventing projects from deploying when debugging a SSIS package
This is a quick tip to help quickly solve a problem I run into sometimes, and now that I am...
2011-09-02
1,423 reads
Receive error #13119 in toolbox instead of tools in Visual Studio 2008
A couple of times over the past few months, while in Visual Studio 2008 working on an SSIS package, I went...
2011-08-31
2,171 reads
When to use T-SQL or SSIS for ETL
When doing ETL, you have the choice of using T-SQL or SSIS. What things should you consider when deciding which...
2011-08-29
10,263 reads
Microsoft SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW) Explained
Microsoft SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW), formally called by its code name “Project Madison”, is an edition of Microsoft’s SQL Server...
2011-08-26
3,867 reads
Microsoft Small Basic
This is a bit off-topic, but I wanted to mention a great tool for beginners to learn how to program. ...
2011-08-24
2,076 reads
Tracking down KPI error in PerformancePoint
On a few occasions, I have opened up my PerformancePoint scorecard on SharePoint to see an error staring at me:
So...
2011-08-22
777 reads
Blogs
How to Clear the SSMS Cache (SSMS 21 and Later)
By SQLPals
How to Clear the SSMS Cache (SSMS 21 and Later) Updated...
The flight recorder: Replaying what an AI agent did on my SQL Server
By Arun Sirpal
“What exactly did it do on my server?” is the first question a DBA...
Announcements from the Microsoft Fabric Community Conference — Barcelona 2026
By James Serra
Microsoft shared a broad set of Fabric, Power BI, and SQL updates at FabCon...
Forums
Let's Talk Certifications
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Let's Talk Certifications
The Hidden Security Risks of Role Combination in SSAS Tabular
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Hidden Security Risks of...
The Empty Aggregate
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Empty Aggregate
Question of the Day
The Empty Aggregate
I have this table in a SQL Server 2025 database:
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[CustomerOrder] ( [OrderID] [int] NULL, [CustomerID] [int] NULL, [total] [money] NULL ) ON [PRIMARY] GOWhat is returned from this code? (answers are for the sum and then the count)
SELECT SUM(total) AS sum,
COUNT(total) AS count
FROM dbo.CustomerOrder;
See possible answers