Thats the problem then, as the error message says the len function cannot be use on the data type text.

What you can do is to cast the text to a varchar...

The most appropriate method to generate a surrogate key has to depend on a number of factors such as the throughput, concurrency, data volumes and user requirements for access to...

a union query in the view should work

select ActualName from TableA t1, TableB t2

where t2.nameID = t1.Name

union

select ActualName from tableA t1, TableB t2

where t2.nameID = t1.Name2

I think there may be a css that can be modified but not sure if that includes the Document Map

Fairly simple in SQL 2005. Using BIDS create an integration services project then build the appropriate data flow. Even when there is only one file you could use a for...

its been a while since I looked at DTSrun as I am working on SQL 2005 and packages are now run with dtexec. Mind you there are similar problems and...

Installing SQL Server would work but perhaps a bit overkill. i am not sure if the dtsrun executable can be ported to another machine but it may be worth trying...

I would suggest installing a second instance as a default instance. Once you have this you should be able to detach all databases from the named instance and attach to...

By and large we are actually agreeing here Jeff though I disagree that Erland Sommarkskog is referring to an Identity column in type C. That is only there by implication.

I...

Shrinking a database file should not result in any data loss. As far as I know SQL Server will apply appropriate locks during the shrink. I have never lost any...

Ken was spot on with his post.

I also indicated there is a place for Identity columns but they should be used by design rather than default. Surrogate keys have...

If I am reading this correctly I suspect that you may have a problem here and you will need to archive the fact data associated with the months that you...

Partitioning should possibly be considered for your DW, however there is insufficient information in your post to give a definitive answer but partitioning is not really a solution for reloading...

Surely where a table has a natural key it is advisable to utilise this as the Primary Key rather then an Identity column.

Identity columns do have their uses but...