You can check the datatype returned from the substring by executing a short SELECT ... INTO test.

SELECT  TOP 10 
    field1, field2, SUBSTRING(period,2,2) AS PERIOD, field4 
into TestTable
FROM BaseTable

You'll probably need to...

Well that sucks right royally. Seem that unless you've got an in-house development shop that can utilise the reporting controls, you only get good reporting functionality if you purchase Enterprise...

Haven't had a chance to get the CTP running yet

Can you advise if the ReportBuilder works with Standard Edition, not just Enterprise Edition?

Are you sure everyone is out of the database? I've had similar frustrations only to find that one of my Query Analyzer windows was still connected to the database.

Run sp_who2...

Did you look at the workarounds listed in the article? Are you able to satisfy all the non-SQL Server items such as compressed drives, etc... ?

You could try moving the...

What version of windows and SQL are you running? What action does the job perform?

Try this article

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310834

Why settle for one hugely expensive monitor. Just buy a few cheap ones.

http://members.chello.nl/~s.ferris/

rmantel, I should have elaborated in my original post, I was after an example that illustrated how the different execution method showed...

Yes, there is another way. Use xp_smtp_sendmail from http://www.sqldev.net

For our SQL Servers we don't use Outlook, SQL Mail, SQL Agent Mail or any Operators.

We have alerts defined for severity...

Sorry, but this is way too simple and doesn't show any difference in the execution plan at all. Based on this example there is no way that anyone would in...

I really don't know what the big deal is about large screen sizes.

The overhead projector at work has been giving me years of enjoyment while playing DOOM, QUAKE, DUKE NUKEM,...

This is a pretty good start,

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/maintain/sqlops0.mspx

And while not totally appropriate in some situations, the MS Best Practice Analyzer has it's uses.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=B352EB1F-D3CA-44EE-893E-9E07339C1F22&displaylang=en

There's really no "official" best practices. Often what...

Michael

Is there a reason you're persisting with the SQL Mail configuration? Surely in 6 days of troubleshooting without a resolution you'd be prepared to try something different

So how about posting some example code so everyone can benefit from this??