Rather than simply spot checking by running sp_who2, you might consider setting up a trace to capture the stored procedures and query calls on the server over a period of...

In SQL Server 2005 or 2000 without some type of structure or mechanism to gather that data, no.

I did a series of tests because I wanted to write an article comparing OPENXML to XQUERY. I couldn't find a fundamental performance difference in query execution time, scans or...

I agree with Jack. It's like you wrote a product description for SSIS.

For going to Oracle, I'd suggest getting this third party destination device. Otherwise, moving the data to oracle...

Thanks Bart. Very useful information. I think I'll be staying away from the list all columns option though. I do like David Poole's tip up above. I need to remember...

You are quick, Gail! I haven't even been able to download the bloody thing yet, let alone get my virtual's upgraded.

Thanks for the post. One less thing to test.

Great report, thanks Steve. I think you're very right about Powershell. It's incorporated into Operations Manager 2007 and Team Foundation Server. I'm seeing more and more bits & pieces suggesting...

Excellent article TJ. Congratulations on a well ordered process.

Any chance of posting the code for the procs that start the traces? I'm curious about some of the details of how...

Updating the stats will certainly lead to changes in the query plan, depending on what happened in the stats. It's possible that you had a plan that was working well...

Piling on.

I've seen that standard before. I don't care for it, but as long as it's applied consistently, it's readable and it won't hurt anything.

Usually just the opposite. Not updating stats for ages on end leads to slower & slower running procs and then the stats get updated and everything speeds up.

It could be...

Yay!

Damn, I really wish I could have gone to Tech-Ed.

Is there a question in there that I'm missing?

Michael's works. Another way to the same window is to drill down on the table in question so that you see the "Constraints" folder. Right click and select "New Constraint..."

The first time I created the rule, it took a while for it to actually gather the data. I'm assuming that was time spent sending everything out to all the...