How to Delete Large Amounts of Data in Microsoft SQL Server
A short look at some of the options for deleting lots of data from a SQL Server table.
The Load of Real Time Data Warehouses
How much load do real time updates place on a data warehouse? Steve has a few thoughts on the analysis of the Amazon Redshift dataset, Redset.
Introducing the PASS Data Community Summit Keynotes from Microsoft, Redgate, and a Community Star
After meeting the stellar pre-con speakers and exploring the 5 learning pathways at #PASSDataSummit 2024, we’re excited to reveal the keynote lineup. Each day will kick off with inspiring keynotes from Microsoft, Redgate, and a special community-driven session led by industry experts. Don’t miss out on these insightful sessions designed to energize and empower you throughout PASS Summit 2024.
Uniqueness, Keys, and Identity
If you’ve ever had a traditional logic course, you’ll have run into “The Law of Identity” as the founding principle of all Western thought. It says that: “To be is to be something in particular; to be nothing in particular or anything in general, is to be nothing at all.”
Being an extroverted introvert at a conference
As I start this editorial, I am sitting at a PostgreSQL conference in New York City during the nighttime reception. The sound of 100 voices is not quite deafening, but it is certainly loud and understanding anyone in this group would be hard. It is also hard because I only know about four people at […]
Display More Than 8000 Characters (SQL Spackle)
SQL Server MVP Jeff Moden shows us a quick and dirty bit of SQL Spackle to display the content of VARCHAR(MAX) and NVARCHAR(MAX).
Where's the Printer Friendly Option?
Steve reminisces about the older technology of putting words on paper, often from the web.
Storing and Retrieving the Initialization and Configuration Data for Applications
All developers hit the problem of how and where to store and set their configuration, profile, or initial data. A long time ago, it was generally decided that simple text files containing key/values were best, stored with the application. After all, you are relying on being able to entice busy people to get the permanent settings right for their requirements, folks who are generally not interested in your elegant computer science constructs. Not only that, but the settings must be parsed very quickly and efficiently, otherwise a process that uses the tool will slow to a crawl.
Why customers love SQL Prompt
SQL Prompt has long been a customer favorite thanks to its ability to boost productivity. Discover how fellow database professionals are leveraging SQL Prompt to accelerate their coding speed and improve code quality.
Cleaning Up Your Database
How many of us clean up our databases and is it worth it? Steve has a few thoughts.
Blogs
T-SQL Tuesday #203: Risk and Reward
By Steve Jones
This is timely, as I’m currently on a boat in the Adriatic taking a...
dataMinds Connect 2026 – Slides & Scripts
You can find the slides and SQL scripts for my session “Spice up your...
How to Clear the SSMS Cache (SSMS 21 and Later)
By SQLPals
How to Clear the SSMS Cache (SSMS 21 and Later) Updated...
Forums
Risk Vs Reward, The never ending ROI discussion.
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Risk Vs Reward, The never...
Using CHOOSE()
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Using CHOOSE()
Re-Seeding a Broken Log Shipping Secondary (Without Touching the Primary)
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Re-Seeding a Broken Log Shipping...
Question of the Day
Using CHOOSE()
We have this code that sets some status values and then queries them using the CHOOSE() function in SQL Server 2025.
CREATE TABLE Status
(
StatusID INT,
StatusDescription VARCHAR(20)
);
GO
INSERT dbo.Status
(
StatusID,
StatusDescription
)
VALUES
(0, 'Uncategorized'),
(1, 'Active'),
(2, 'Inactive'),
(3, 'Temp');
GO
SELECT CHOOSE(StatusID, 'Unknown', 'Active', 'Inactive', 'Temporary')
FROM Status;
When the SELECT runs, what is returned? See possible answers