Working with Queues in SQL Server
This article shows sow to create a queue from a SQL table to serve each operator exactly one item from the queue that has not been picked up by any other.
Celko's SQL Stumper: Eggs in one Basket
Joe Celko returns with another stumper to celebrate Easter. Unsurprisingly, this involves eggs. More surprising is the nature of the puzzle: This time, the puzzle is one of designing a database rather than a query. DDL as well as the DML.
SQL Server Indexed Views
Views can be an effective tool for speeding up your selects and simplifying complex queries. Learn what indexed views are, where you might want to use them, how to create them, and what constraints exist with their use.
TSQL Challenge 27 - Identify overlapping weekly schedules of Nurses
This challenge is related a scheduling problem in the home health care industry. The task is to look into the schedules of nurses and identify any overlapping schedules.
A High Level Comparison Between Oracle and SQL Server - Part IV
The concluding part of the Oracle / SQL Server comparison looks at error logging, security, installation and finally querying the databases.
Decoding the SQL Server Index Structure
A deep dive into the implementation of indexes in SQL Server 2008 R2. This is information that you must know in order to tune your queries for optimum performance. Partial scans of indexes are now possible!
No More NULL
A change in the support for NULL values has Steve Jones commenting on the implications.
Insider Insights
Insider rumours and gossip from the murky world of the Database Industry, and from the colourful characters that inhabit it.
Blogs
Who Are You Doing It For?
By Brian Kelley
But as I've matured over the years, I came to realize that I needed...
Presenting Twice in May 2026
By alevyinroc
I will be presenting my latest session, Documenting Your Work for Worry-Free Vacations, in-person...
Finding the Next Sequence Value: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I saw a question asking about the next sequence value and decided to try...
Forums
DB Design Methods
I've read a few posts regarding what we use to design DB models and...
Auto Update Statistics not triggering on filtered indexes
I've got a table with 186,703,969 rows, about 300GB of data. There are several...
What is the difference between SQL Server and SQL Database?
I created a SQL Database in Azure Portal but I've just noticed it also...
Question of the Day
An Unusual Identity
What values are returned when I run this code?
CREATE TABLE dbo.IdentityTest2
(
id NUMERIC(10,0) IDENTITY(10,10) PRIMARY KEY,
somevalue VARCHAR(20)
)
GO
INSERT dbo.IdentityTest2
(
somevalue
)
VALUES
( 'Steve')
, ('Bill')
GO
SELECT top 10
id
FROM dbo.IdentityTest2 See possible answers