A situation where I use dynamic SQL is in an "advanced search" type query where there are a large number of optional parameters.

Even then I use a stored procedure to...

Point 1

If you are a one man band working on small projects then the VB/Access route can be the fastest way to go.

If you are working in teams on larger...

Nancy,

You are really doing research as a script writer for Dilbert column aren't you

So the archive always contains a log of the changes that have been made to a record?

The trigger method does mean that the archiving is done at the database level...

In general I would keep SQL within stored procedures for umpteen billion reasons that have been discussed on this site.

• Stored procedures are compiled
• Are more secure
• Can be debugged on the SQL...

Without testing this I cannot say if my code below will be bug free but the first three queries simply don't need a cursor.

Your cursor simply selects all users for...

I've found that using string functions in WHERE clauses has a higher performance penalty than using LIKE with wildcards.

I'm not sure that I agree with non-maths numbers stored in text.

I would say that the rule of thumb would be that if a numerical value has to be displayed,...

The other thing to watch out for is the way in which SQL stores dates.

For example, the default SQL Server install gives you dates in US format  Month/Day/Year.

In Britain we...

I always use a user defined type that equates to VARCHAR(20) and specifies that the phone number must contain at least one numeral.

Things that get put in telephone number fields

• Country...

I would like to add that if everything is working fine on SQL7 and you can install W2K on your new servers then I would limit it your costs to the...

Ditto

I've tried it on the standard edition,  Developers edition and Enterprise Edition so unless there is a QOD edition that I don't know about I can't see how they got...

Personally, given the imminent release of SQL2005 I would not upgrade SQL Server just yet.

This has the feel of a deprecated feature and it has been deprecated for a reason.

Try searching for it on the web let alone BOL!

MIDDLE JOIN will only work if...

Personally I would use the image field type.

You need to write an app that reads the binary representation of the file then use the ADO.Stream object to post the file...