BOL states that varchar is limited to 8,000 characters. When using sp_executesql you are bound to use nvarchar, which is limited to 4,000 characters. If that's not enough, you can...

Put the whole statement into your string and execute it dynamically as explained here http://www.sommarskog.se/dynamic_sql.html#cursor

Good question.

At first I would no, there is no real difference.

However have you compared both alternatives using SET SHOWPLAN_TEXT setting?

You cannot do it this way!

While using ADO and its' Stream Object is probably the most simple method, SQL Server offers WRITETEXT, UPDATETEXT and READTEXT. You may also want to...

You should be kind and polite and suggest the dba should read a book on fundamentals of relational databases.

Looks like a long way to go and you won't get far...

Hey Allen, congrats on crossing the 2,000 posts barrier

Why do your users think, they need their own indexes?

Maybe you can create a test scenario and see what the Index Tuning Wizard is suggesting?

In addition to the above posts I would also place a DEFAULT of GETDATE() on the LastUpdateDate and a DEFAULT of CURRENT_USER on the LastUpdateUser columns.

Another thing is, you write...

I'd go with Steve. Use IE6 for replying. Normally I browse with Mozilla and reply using IE.

Anything else like Mozilla, Opera seems to cause problems when replying. But I don't...

And what about sa for 'normal users' ?

I am a such a user as I'm not in the IT department at all.

Hey Frank!  Do you work in my corporate office? 

Must have something to do with the brain wash when transforming to a manager.

This might be a start

http://www.sommarskog.se/dyn-search.html

Yes, it's like walking on very thin ice.

Well, I wouldn't consider a simple subtraction 'more arithmetic'

But, I agree that it never hurts to look behind the scenes. Fortunately those problems...

One point that hasn't been addressed yet. I guess most of the developers are sa to the production servers? If so, another interesting battlefield