SQL Server 2008 Diagnostic Information Queries
Here is the script that I used in my Dr. DMV presentation this afternoon at PASS. It is a set...
SQL Server Unique Constraints for Large Text Columns
We are storing large text and URLs that are over 900 bytes in some of our tables and have a requirement to enforce uniqueness in those columns. But SQL Server has a limitation that index size can't be over 900 bytes. How do I enforce uniqueness in these columns and is it possible to achieve this in SQL Server 2005 and above? What are my different options to solve this problem? I heard that we can use CHECKSUM to create a hash, but is it possible to avoid collisions in the hash value as we are storing millions of rows?
Tuning SQL Server 2005 Integration Services for EBCDIC Data Conversion
Loading EBCDIC data into SQL Server is not a well documented process - this article provides a very useful guide to optimizing the performance of this operation.
Improving Cube Performance with Precalculated Aggregations
A step by step example of how to add pre-calculated closing balances through T-SQL and semi-additive measures from Johan Åhlén.
The Summit 2009 - Day 1
Steve Jones talks a little about day one of the PASS Summit in 2009. A day of news, announcements, and briefings.
Suggested Max Memory Settings for SQL Server 2005/2008
It is pretty important to make sure you set the Max Server memory setting for SQL Server 2005/2008 to something...
T-SQL Best Practices – Don’t Use Scalar Value Functions in Column List or WHERE Clauses
Query performance can be affected by many different factors. This article introduces another best practice of how and how not to use a function within your T-SQL statements.
Updating a Database from WinForms Controls, Old School
Of all of the reader email I get, just these two things alone reminded me that of course I don't know everything, and many of you are working at a widening level of experience. To that end, this article is an old school article that shows new-to-WinForms programmers how to read data from controls and contrive SQL that updates a database.
It's Time for Encryption
Encryption is starting to become a necessity, not an option as we work with and store more sensitive data. A guest editorial from Andy Warren comments on our fears of implementing encrpytion and why we might want to just encrypt everything.
Blogs
Setting Up a Mac for Data Engineering and AI Work
If you work with data pipelines, SQL, notebooks, or machine learning models, a Mac...
Want to look at cloud reporting but not sure what the costs will be?
By ChrisJenkins
Have you been thinking about migrating your reporting to Microsoft Fabric or Snowflake but...
The Joyful Craftsmen and the Revolt BI join forces
The Joyful Craftsmen has become the new owner of Revolt BI. The merger creates...
Forums
SQL Art, Part 4: Happy 4th of July — A British DBA's Guide to Celebrating a War We Don't Talk About
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Art, Part 4: Happy...
SQL Server Enum Implementation: A Single-Row View Strategy for Avoiding Magic Values
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server Enum Implementation: A...
BIT_COUNT I
Comments posted to this topic are about the item BIT_COUNT I
Question of the Day
BIT_COUNT I
In SQL Server 2025, I have a table (dbo.UserPermission) that contains this data:
UserID UserPermissions 15 23 37What is returned when I run this code:
select bit_count(UserPermissions) as PermissionCount from dbo.UserPermission where UserID = 3;See possible answers