Building a Support Ticket Triage Report with IIF() and CHOOSE() in SQL Server
Learn how to use CHOOSE() and IIF() to validate priorities and return easy to read messages to the user.
2026-10-21
2,501 reads
T-SQL
Reusing Customer Specific Order Filtering Logic with CROSS APPLY and an Inline TVF (Part 4)
In part 4 of this series, we look at using CROSS APPLY to filter in a function.
2026-10-19
1,712 reads
Finding Gaps in Sequential Data Using SQL Server
Many systems expect a sequential range of numbers for invoices, ticket numbers, and more. Learn how you can identify where you have gaps in your sequences.
2026-09-21
3,888 reads
Practical Reporting Queries with CROSS APPLY (Part 3)
This article continues the series on APPLY, showcasing how some practical reports can be implemented using this operator.
2026-09-18
3,276 reads
BIT_COUNT in SQL Server
Learn how the BIT_COUNT() function works and how it enabled operations where data is stored in bits.
2026-08-07
4,491 reads
CROSS APPLY Fundamentals: Part 1
Learn the basics of the CROSS APPLY operator with a few examples in this short piece.
2026-07-27
6,574 reads
TRY_PARSE vs TRY_CONVERT in SQL Server: From Basics to Practical Usage
This article shows how the TRY_PARSE() and TRY_CONVERT() functions can be used to handle data quality issues and ensure that your software continues to function without throwing errors.
2026-07-13
3,855 reads
SQL Server Enum Implementation: A Single-Row View Strategy for Avoiding Magic Values
Learn about an alternative strategy for avoiding hardcoded literal values in SQL Server queries by using single-row views designed to mimic enum behavior.
2026-06-26
3,580 reads
Understanding SQL Server PARTITION BY with Examples
Introduction When developers first learn SQL aggregation, they usually start with the GROUP BY clause. It works well for summary reports because it combines multiple rows into a single result for each group. For example, you can calculate total sales per region or average salary per department. The limitation of GROUP BY appears when you […]
2026-06-05
4,689 reads
Five SQL Server 2022 T-SQL Functions You Should Be Using Right Now
SQL Server 2022 brought powerful new T-SQL functions that eliminate long-standing workarounds. This article walks through five of the most impactful additions — GENERATE_SERIES, GREATEST/LEAST, DATE_BUCKET, the WINDOW clause, and IS NOT DISTINCT FROM — with practical code examples you can use immediately.
2026-05-29
7,355 reads
Blogs
The #MS_DatabaseConnector## Role: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I had seen these roles in various instances, but never dug into the new...
Asking for Help Isn’t a Weakness
By Brian Kelley
During COVID, I attended training on software/enterprise architecture given by Mark Richards. One of...
The Proof of the Backup Is in the Pudding
For me, the objective is straightforward: have a backup strategy that is reliable, understandable,...
Forums
Pay for Performance
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Pay for Performance, which is...
Access + ODBC Driver 18 + SQL Server 2025: ~150–250 ms per request
Has anyone encountered recurring request latency when using Microsoft Access with SQL Server 2025...
The ##MS_DatabaseConnector## User
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The ##MS_DatabaseConnector## User
Question of the Day
The ##MS_DatabaseConnector## User
On SQL Server 2025, I run this code as a sysadmin:
CREATE LOGIN Demo WITH PASSWORD = 'Demo1234567' GO ALTER SERVER ROLE ##MS_DatabaseConnector## ADD MEMBER Demo GOI then login as Demo and run this:
USE sandbox go SELECT CURRENT_USERWhat is returned? See possible answers