Index on multiple columns for performance
A short piece on indexing using multiple columns. For those of you that have 10 single column indexes, read a little about why you might choose to index on multiple columns.
2004-09-20
2,877 reads
Performance Tuning
Stored Procedure vs Triggers
Performance tuning is an ongoing battle in SQL Server, but having a little knowledge up front when designing an application can greatly reduce the efforts. Do you know which performs better: stored procedures or triggers? There aren't many places where the two are interchangeable, but knowing the impacts of each might change the way you build an application. Read about this analysis by Vijaya Kumar.
2006-03-31 (first published: 2004-08-30)
40,416 reads
Analyzing Data Storage - Ten SHOWCONTIG Queries
Analyzing the data storage in SQL Server databases is a bit of an art. It's a skill that takes some time to develop given that the tools are rather limited. DBCC SHOWCONTIG is one of the few ways in which you can get some insight into how SQL Server has structured your table on the disk. Joe Sack brings us another of his top xxx techniques with his ten queries that you can use to analyze the results of this command.
2004-08-16
23,135 reads
Seven Showplan Red Flags
SQL Server showplan is a great tool for analyzing queries and determining whether or not more performance tuning needs to be done. However working with showplan can be confusing and it takes some practice to learn the ins and outs of what is occurring. Joseph Sack looks at showplan and seven of the main things that he is aware of when looking at the results. If you've rarely or never used showplan, this is a great article to get started in learning how an experienced DBA views the output.
2004-07-15
22,316 reads
Index Creation Guidelines
Index Creation Guidelines for SQL Server can be pretty sparse. Usually there are a couple, clustered index for ranges, nonclustered, etc. Leo Peysakhovich has taken some time to write down his guidelines based on his experience for creating indexes and the rational for doing so. He's also taken a few minutes to look at which indexes NOT to create, something that might be worth knowing..
2005-10-21 (first published: 2004-06-16)
42,216 reads
Case Sensitivity in Selects - Part 1
Your SQL Server has a case insensitive collation, but you need a case sensitive join? Do you know what happens? There are a couple options but do you know the performance implications of using each? Or a way to mitigate the performance degradation that can result?
2004-06-03
10,142 reads
Overview of Performance
How can you tell if your code if performing well? Do you know what you want to look for when starting to analyze code? Here's an article from Leo Peysakhovich that looks at some of the things that you can use at a high level to improve the performance of your code.
2004-05-11
12,474 reads
Reducing Round Trips Part 4
The fourth and final installment in this series, this week Andy discusses how using XML can reduce the load you put on your network and on your server. This is a high level article that discusses concepts. We think you'll find a good idea or two in this one!
2004-04-23
9,008 reads
Tracing Deadlocks
New Author! Deadlocks aren't the most common problem but they happen they can really degrade performance. Shiv works through how to nail down what is causing the deadlock.
2007-04-06 (first published: 2004-04-06)
44,352 reads
Measuring SQL Performance
One thing that often amazes me is that many SQL Server developers do not actually measure the performance of their queries. Many of them thought that you needed external tools, more or less complicated, to run against your server, and they did not have the time or inclination to learn and try these. This article will describe a couple of much easier methods of measuring performance of queries.
2005-12-23 (first published: 2004-04-02)
37,848 reads
Blogs
Experimenting with CHOOSE: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I was looking over the CHOOSE() function while editing an article at SQL Server...
Fighting Procrastination?
By Brian Kelley
Here is another short video (~ 15 minutes). This is by the author of...
A Fun Prize at the PASS Data Community Summit
By Steve Jones
I had a briefing for the 2026 PASS Data Community Summit, which is just...
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SQL Server 2025 Server-level Roles
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Stairway to DAX and Power BI - Level 29: The DAX Combine & Aggregate Functions
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AI Is Improving Security
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Question of the Day
SQL Server 2025 Server-level Roles
In SQL Server 2022+, what does the ##MS_DatabaseConnector## role allow?
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