The DBA Game
Are you up for a quick game of who's the best DBA? A little humerous diversion on one of the big holidays in the US.
Views in SQL Server
A view is a virtual table that consists of columns from one or more tables. Though it is similar to a table, it is stored in the database. It is a query stored as an object. Hence, a view is an object that derives its data from one or more tables. These tables are referred to as base or underlying tables.
Quick Hints for using the RAISERROR Command
SQL Server 2000 error handling isn't the most mature system for dealing with unexpected events. It has been much enhanced in SQL Server 2005, but many people will be using SQL Server 2000 for a long time. RAISERROR is one of those functions that can really aid in troubleshooting, but is often underutilized. David Poole brings us some hints on how this can help you out in your code.
Checksum Transformation
The Checksum Transformation computes a hash value, the checksum, across one or more columns, returning the result in the Checksum output column. The transformation provides functionality similar to the T-SQL CHECKSUM function, but is encapsulated within SQL Server Integration Services, for use within the pipeline without code or a SQL Server connection.
Leveraging XP Excel , XML, and OPENXML for Data Imports
DTS is a fantastic ETL tool and it is often used to import Excel documents. However this can be a manual process in many cases in setting up the package. New author Sloan Holliday brings us a way that you can leverage Office XP's automation facilities and XML to import data into SQL Server.
Building Reports Based On Stored Procedures
Usually developers like having full control over their reports but what happens if you have someone designated to build reports who does not quite know the backend schema. A good way to separate the building of the data for the report and the report design could be stored procedures. Now I consume stored procedures using Oracle which is not much different consuming stored procedures with SQL Server, however building the procedures is much different between the two. Even though I mention and show examples of stored procedures this is not an article for building them, just a guide for consuming a stored procedure within a Reporting Services Report.
DTS Standards
SQL Server 2000 brought us DTS, a new way of working with data movement for SQL Server DBAs. However, unlike Integration Services and Project REAL, there weren't any great standards for working with this tool and building portable solutions was hard. Jonathan Stokes brings us a great article on how you can create a standard structure for your packages and make them more portable.
Controlling Transactions and Locks Part 4 : SQL 2005 Snapshot
This is the forth article in the transaction and lock series. Up to now, the locks and hints discussed have applied to both SQL 2000 and SQL 20005. However, this article will introduce Snapshots, new in Microsoft SQL 2005.
Performance Implications of Nullable Columns
To null or not to null: that is the question. The specific focus here is performance implications of NULL versus NOT NULL columns.
Starting and Stopping SQL Server Part 1
I'm sure most DBAs don't give a second thought to starting and stopping their SQL Server 2000 servers. But do you know the different ways to do this and some of the impacts and expectations you should have? Especially with hardware growing, it's not always as simple and straightforward as it should be. Andy Warren recently had to deal with some issues and starts a new series looking at the various ways of starting and stopping SQL Server.
Blogs
PostgreSQL: Diagnosing and Fixing a Sequential Scan with No Filter Predicate
A sequential scan is not always a problem — PostgreSQL's planner often chooses one...
Giving AI Agents Visibility Into SQL Server with MCP
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it actually takes to make an...
The Book of Redgate: Profits
By Steve Jones
Redgate is a for-profit company. We look to make money by building and selling...
Forums
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Question of the Day
Finish the quote
Finish this quote (for a fun Memorial Day question):
Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. ...See possible answers