DATEDIFF is not the best option on a larger table as it will prevent the use of an index

See if this helps:

Am I right, that you don't know in advance how many dy_ columns there will be?

If so, and given you don't want to do this at the client, have a...

Does this help?

DECLARE @dt VARCHAR(30)

SET @dt='disc_residual_20050330.csv'

SELECT

 CAST(LEFT(RIGHT(@dt,12),8) AS DATETIME)

------------------------------------------------------

2005-03-30 00:00:00.000

(1 row(s) affected)

Needlessly harsh words, Remi.

It will certainly be more helpful for anyone here if you post a better solution than just exercise rhetorical platitudes, don't you think?

Basically the same as Nick M's suggestion. But with ORDER BY's.

set nocount on

use northwind

select

 t1.CustomerID

 , t1.OrderDate

from

 orders t1

where

 t1.OrderDate in

(

 select top 2 --with ties

  t2.OrderDate

 from

  orders t2

 where

  t2.CustomerID = t1.CustomerID

 order by

  t2.OrderDate desc

)

order by

 t1.CustomerID

 ,...

I would expect a Clustered Index Seek (in case that index is a clustered one). Respectively an Index Seek along with a bookmark lookup in case the index is a nonclustered...

More than one way to skin that cat here.

select * from yourtable t1

where t1.[date]=

   (select max([date]) from yourtable t2

    where t1.id=t2.id)

order by t1.id

select t2.id, t1.amount, t2.maxdate from yourtable t1...

Depending on who is putting up a blog here, I would certainly read it. So, my answer is Yes, implement blogs here. Even if it is just to stay on the...

Also, see if this provides additional information:

http://www.sql-server-performance.com/fk_datetime.asp

http://www.google.de/search?hl=de&q=law+of+comparative+advantage&meta=

Another one:

http://sqljunkies.com/WebLog/amachanic/archive/2004/11/10/5065.aspx?Pending=true

I'm not sure if I understand this question, but SQL Server does *not* interpret any data stored in BLOB columns such as TEXT. I assume you're talking about a column...

Remi, did you try

set dateformat ymd

select

 convert(datetime, '00/08/12')

 , convert(datetime, '99/08/12')

 , convert(datetime, '50/08/12')

 , convert(datetime, '49/08/12')

Please avoid posting the same question to multiple fora. Keep the thread here:

http://www.sqlservercentral.com/forums/shwmessage.aspx?forumid=9&messageid=179647

Why do you think SQL Server is using to "wrong" index?

Here are some interesting links:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;195565 

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/tips/development/queryopstats.asp

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;325024

I think some are for SQL Server 2000 but they should give a...