Celko on SQL: Natural, Artificial and Surrogate Keys Explained
SQL programming guru Joe Celko offers a classification scheme and advice on using the right keys.
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition - Part 8 - XCopy Deployment
Part 8 of our series provides an overview of User Instance model (also known as “Run As Normal User” or simply RANU) and automatic database connectivity, which serve as two primary enablers for XCopy deployment, facilitating distribution of single-user databases.
Date and Time in SQL Server 2008
SQL Server 2008 is well on its way to being complete and released with the release of the second CTP recently. There aren't a tremendous number of changes, but one of the more interesting ones is the changes to date and time handling in this new platform. The time and date datatypes have been separated and longtime SQL Server author Vincent Rainardi brings us a short look at how there can be used.
Get Some Help
The vast majority of us never work on high volume systems. And I mean high volume systems, like backing a web server that gets millions of hits in a few minutes, which might result in tens of millions of database queries in the same amount of time.
Working with Time Spans and Durations in SQL Server
What is the best way to return the "duration" of an event in SQL, given the start and end datetime values? How can we add up these durations to return grand totals? What data types should be used to return this data to our clients? How do we handle overflows, such as when hours go over 23 or minutes total up to over 59? Are there any T-SQL functions or other techniques that are useful in these scenarios?
Featured Blog: BACKUP LOG WITH NO_LOG
From one of the SQL Server 2005 storage engine lead developers comes this look at the impact of using the NO_LOG and TRUNCATE_ONLY options.
Performance Tuning
Performance tuning is an art or science, depending on who you talk to. SQL Server guru Joe Sack has authored a book on SQL Server 2005 T-SQL and brings us the performance tuning chapter as a preview.
The Reporting Services 3-Trick Pony
Rodney Landrum demonstrates an ingenious way to monitor blocked SQL Server processes across all your servers, using nothing but SSRS.
Microsoft Windows PowerShell and SQL Server 2005 SMO – Part 8
This installment illustrates how to use PowerShell in conjunction with SMO to display object properties of all SQL Server Objects.
Distributing SQL Server Databases
Longtime SQL Server author Raj Vasant brings us a technique for delivering databases along with an application. As more and more systems take advantage of SQL Server or Express, this is a technique that can come in very handy.
Blogs
From Planning to Practice: Setting Up Your FinOps Framework
By HeyMo0sh
As someone who works in DevOps, I’m always focused on creating systems that are...
“We love to debate minutiae”
By Brian Kelley
I am guilty as charged. The quote was in reference to how people argue...
Advice I Like: Knots
By Steve Jones
Learn how to tie a bowline knot. Practice in the dark. With one hand....
Forums
Restoring On Top II
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SQL Art 2: St Patrick’s Day in SSMS (Shamrock + Pint + Pixel Text)
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Breaking Down Your Work
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Question of the Day
Restoring On Top II
I have a database, DNRTest, that has a number of tables and other objects in it. The other day, I was trying to mock up a test and ran this code on the same server:
-- run yesterday CREATE DATABASE DNRTest2 GO USE DNRTest2 GO CREATE TABLE NewTable (id INT) GOToday, I realize that I need a copy of DNRTest for another mockup, and I run this:
-- run today USE Master BACKUP DATABASE DNRTest TO DISK = 'dnrtest.bak' GO RESTORE DATABASE DNRTest2 FROM DISK = 'dnrtest.bak' WITH REPLACEWhat happens? See possible answers