A common activity in applications is to page results or record sets from a database. This is usually done on the client using the client's paging functionality or on the server through a variety of methods. In SQL Server 2000 those server side methods typically used dynamic SQL or nested TOP clauses and weren't very efficient. Using Common Table Expressions in SQL Server 2005 we have a better way to page record sets on the server.
2008-01-17 (first published: 2007-01-25)
4,640 reads
This script shows a simple way to check if the current version of SQL Server is 2005 or lower.It exploits the new server property called 'BuildClrVersion' which is not defined on SQL Server 2000 (and lower) but has just been introduced with 2005.It may be useful to condition the execution of a piece of code […]
2007-08-16 (first published: 2007-01-23)
245 reads
For fellow Canadians and neighbours to the south, you may find useful a function to validate the formatting of a Canadian postal code. More than once I've had to work with web programmers on checking that a postal code meets the A1A1A1 style, so carry around a function that simply returns a true/false bit if […]
2007-01-15 (first published: 2007-01-05)
1,093 reads
Checks the default file locations for your data and log files. If not set, it sets them to the specified values. This is written for a SQL 2005 default instance. Registry paths may be different for SQL 2000 or named instances.The script can be easily modified to update it if the current value is set […]
2007-01-01 (first published: 2006-12-21)
892 reads
How many of you have ever used SET CONTEXT_INFO in your SQL Server applications? Chances are it is not something you have been exposed to, but new author Yousef Ekhtiari brings us an example of how this particular construct can be used in your application.
2007-12-18 (first published: 2006-12-21)
17,036 reads
