Describes how you can link SQL Server with many different data sources like a directory as Active Directory Application Mode, a Microsoft Indexing Server catalog, a Microsoft Access database and a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Also explains how to query linked servers using the OPENQUERY command.
2007-08-21
2,712 reads
Remi Gregoire describes one of the Support nightmares, the vice of RBAR Database Programming, 'Row By Agonising Row', and illustrates how the effect of RBAR can sometimes be felt only years after an application is released, when the database supporting the application grows.
2007-08-16
3,179 reads
There is often a need to work with time data representing various events and then reporting on them in SQL Server applications. However T-SQL doesn't necessarily make this easy. However new author Joe Lynds brings us an article on some advanced T-SQL to do just that.
2007-08-15
12,158 reads
Summarizing data in a SELECT statement using a GROUP BY clause is a very common area of difficulty for beginning SQL programmers. In Part I of this two part series, we'll use a simple schema and a typical report request to cover the effect of JOINS on grouping and aggregate calculations, and how to use COUNT(Distinct) to overcome this.
2007-08-09
5,253 reads
Robyn and Phil decide to build an RSS newsfeed in TSQL, using the power of SQL Server's XML.
2007-07-31
1,412 reads
Be sure you don't end up with arithmatic errors in your identity columns from a SQL Server MVP.
2007-07-26
2,984 reads
In systems that require, for auditing purposes, advanced logging and reproducibility of reports between runs, a straightforward update, insert, or delete may be counter-productive. In such circumstances, a bitemporal model is necessary
2007-06-04
2,464 reads
One of the very common questions posted about T-SQL is how to traverse a hierarchy in a set based manner. New author Craig Hatley brings us his techniques for handling the common scenario of employees and managers.
2008-05-16 (first published: 2007-06-04)
5,915 reads
COALESCE() accepts a series of values and a value to use in the event that all items in the list are null; then, it returns the first not-null value. This tip describes two creative uses of the COALESCE() function in SQL Server.
2007-06-01
5,777 reads
You can use arithmetic operators in date/time calculations in SQL Server, but sometimes the date/time functions provided by Microsoft are the better option. Follow a few scenarios that demonstrate when arithmetic operators are safe and when they are risky.
2007-05-28
7,463 reads
By Steve Jones
If someone is trying to convince you it’s not a pyramid scheme, it’s a...
By Steve Jones
I was looking back at my year and decided to see if SQL Prompt...
In the era of cloud-native applications, Kubernetes has become the default standard platform for...
Hi experts, I have a 3+ TB database on a 2019 sql server which...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The North Star for the...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Multiple Escape Characters
In SQL Server 2025, I run this code (in a database with the appropriate collation):
SELECT UNISTR('%*3041%*308A%*304C%*3068 and good night', '%*') AS 'A Classic';
What is returned? See possible answers