Just curious - you could probably achieve the same thing if you made the data entry app "force" the fighterID's to be in a specific sequence (such as - FighterID1...

it'd be nice if I finished typing prior to sending  I just wanted to clarify where the database name went in your initial post. ...

I'm kind of confused - SQL in my mind is returning the right result, and Excel is not? If I am on the last day of a month, and add...

Normalization would dictate you split the event data itself (date, bout #, rounds, time, weightclass) from the fighters in the event (fighterID, weight).  That's theory talking of course.

As to limiting...

Does bouncing the SQL Server Agent service help at all?

Agree with Andras.  There are pitfalls - make sure you understand them.  Just one small clarification on syntax:

Backup LOG <databasename> WITH TRUNCATE

Still - it is strangely reminiscent of all of those "dirt cheap" ISP services that popped up a few years ago.  Lots of folks jumped at them, not reading the...

A SQL database relies on transaction logs to run.  Delete it and your DB will in essence be "dead".  I don't think it will mount without it.

If you're talking about invoking a saved "pass-through" query, it will generate an error any time the code being passed through throws an error, OR if it returns no records...

Let's just say I had my full of the stuff that he was shoveling.  This was the CLEAN version of what I really was going to say (let's be thankful...

Actually - this conversation WAS about contingency plans, bad separations and what SHOULD be done who act irresponsible in their duties as DBA's.  UNTIL it got hijacked.

I read a lot...

Johan -

really - how far off-topic do you need to go?  There are millions of other places to discuss this kind of nonsense, some of which where this kind...

If you don't want the SQLAgent to have a bunch of network privileges (which is usually a good idea security-wise), then your next alternative in SQL 2000 is probably to...

Running the command from DOS and running it from a job step is executing the code from different contexts.

Recommendation - code the vbs file to not assume ANY drive mapping...

Do some poking around BOL on the "lazy writer" process, and the concept of "data pages".  should help explain a bit more about how data changes are buffered, and how...