Avoid using NOLOCK on SQL Server UPDATE and DELETE statements
Occasionally I come across UPDATE and DELETE statements where the target SQL Server table is referenced with the NOLOCK hint. Does this hint help or hurt performance in this case?
SQL Saturday #269 - Exeter, UK
SQL Saturday is coming to Exeter on March 22, 2014. Join Red Gate's David Atkinson and the rest of the speakers at this free day of SQL Server training and networking, organized by SQL South West.
Geeky Entertainment
As a break from work, this week Steve Jones wants to know what you wish for. Are there comic book, science fiction, or technological thrillers you'd like to see made into movies?
See Grant Fritchey and Steve Jones at SQL Intersection
Come see Grant Fritchey and Steve Jones (from Red Gate Software) and many more SQL Server experts while you enjoy spring in Orlando, FL at SQL Intersection.
Calculating Gaps Between Overlapping Time Intervals in SQL
There are a number of real-life reporting tasks in SQL that require a 'gaps and islands' analysis. There are a number of techniques around that work, but finding ones that scale well makes for a tougher, but interesting, challenge.
Fixing CREATE TABLE
Steve Jones has a problem with the inconsistency of the CREATE TABLE statement in SQL Server and has an idea on what to do.
Identify the Backup used to Restore the Database
This article will help us identify the backup which was used to restore the database. This may seem simple when the database backup is from the same server but the complications begin when the backup is not from the same server.
DBAs Checklist for Designing and Reviewing SQL Server System Architectures
In this tip, Sadequl Hussain will try to list a few areas DBAs need to cover when they are designing new systems or reviewing proposed solutions.
Caching
A SQL Server database can easily be seen as a bottleneck as all data must be retrieved from a single machine. However a caching strategy in your application and alleviate load and improve performance.
Blogs
Are you getting value from your reporting?
By ChrisJenkins
Do you spend so long manipulating your data into something vaguely useful that you...
The Book of Redgate: SQL Server Central
By Steve Jones
It was neat to stumble on this in the book, a piece by me,...
Git forked
Forgive me for the title. Mentally I’m 12. When I started my current day...
Forums
Microsoft Security Changes and SQL Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Microsoft Security Changes and SQL...
Expanding into Print
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Expanding into Print
Downtime Caused by the Postgres Transaction ID Wraparound Problem
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Downtime Caused by the Postgres...
Question of the Day
The String Distance I
In SQL Server 2025, what is returned by this code:
SELECT EDIT_DISTANCE('Steve', 'Stan')
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