Outer Join Trouble
Writing outer joins can be more difficult than it appears at first glance. Steve Jones examines this less often used query technique and brings to light a few places where you can lose data.
THE ROLE OF DATA DICTIONARY
IT leaders from enterprises around the world have realized that acquiring and implementing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) application packages is a smarter thing to do, than the traditional approach of developing home-grown applications. This may not be the fit-for-all solution, but it makes sense from a cost, time to market and resource standpoint. Selection and acquisition of the software package is just the first step. How the software package brings value through successful implementation, is critical to the business. Internal groups as well as industry analysts will closely watch COTS package implementation in the organization.
Clustered Indexes in SQL Server: Things You Need to Know
This article covers a few, more advanced topics about the usage of clustered indexes in SQL Server. Not only will I try to convince you of the absolute necessity of using clustered indexes, I'll also give you some tips on how to use them in a not so obvious context.
Securing SQL Server
the January magazine is being printed right now and should be mailed out early next week. Read the editorial and see how you can get you e-copy now!
Digging Into Access Performance
Access can be a very quick and easy to use tool for working with SQL Server data and for quick and dirty projects, it might be the best tool. But there can be performance issues at times and Andy Warren digs into some of these based on some analysis of what Access does behind the scenes.
Creating an End-to-End Package
In this sample chapter, you'll get a full tutorial on how to create an end-to-end SSIS package including transformation, looping and archiving of files.
Cursors and embedded SQL
In the days when I contentedly cut procedural code, I was puzzled by the visceral rages of the database specialists; they were like the ship’s cook occasionally going berserk with a meat-cleaver. After I switched to database work, I realized why.”
Starting and Stopping SQL Server Part 4
Continuing with his series on working with SQL Server, Andy Warren looks at how long it can take to start or restart the services and why.
Using ITWIZ.EXE to Automate Index Analysis
This process uses ITWIZ.EXE the command line version of the Index Tuning Wizard. SQL trace file information is stored in a table on production then transferred to a non-production server. ITWIZ is then run against the transferred trace data resulting in a UNICODE SQL script. This script has index creation and deletion information as well as script parameters in a remarks section.
Blogs
Who’s the Winningest Coach (with AI Help)
By Steve Jones
I was listening to the radio the other day and the hosts were discussing...
Learning from Mistakes: T-SQL Tuesday #194
By Steve Jones
We’re a week late, once again my fault. I was still coming out of...
Stupid Things I Did With AI: ASCII Art
By Steve Jones
I ran across this article recently (https://www.gatesnotes.com/meet-bill/source-code/reader/microsoft-original-source-code) and it has a great opening piece...
Forums
Learning From Breakage
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Python in Action to Auto-Generate an Optimized PostgreSQL Index Strategy
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Adding and Dropping Columns I
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Adding and Dropping Columns I
Question of the Day
Adding and Dropping Columns I
I have this table in my SQL Server 2022 database:
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[CityList] ( [CityNameID] [int] NOT NULL IDENTITY(1, 1), [CityName] [varchar] (30) COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS NULL ) ON [PRIMARY] GOI decide to add two new columns for the StateProvince and Country. What code should I use? See possible answers