The internet is swimming with examples of really inefficient TSQL code. Just because everyone does it that way doesn’t make it optimal. I’ve already blogged about the issues you will find with NOLOCK hints , this post show that using system functions...

Continuing on from my previous post PreScan: SQL Database Schema Distribution this Scan looks at the datatypes used in the database you need to tune. Perhaps one of the less useful of the pre-scans it is still handy. It highlights the use of depreciated...

  Recently I tore my hair out trying to create a great end-user experience for my Excel 2010 users when they access SharePoint. Eventually I found a way to get it to work. This is not a perfect post. I’m far from an expert in SharePoint & I’m...

  At the very start of a performance tuning exercise I do a Quick Appraisal to assess what I'm dealing with.   This is one of a number of “information collection” scripts I run. This post shows (a) Code & (b) some ideas on insight you can...

  If I had a month free I’d like to do a brain dump on how to Load Test, Bulk Up data, find problem queries, refactor them with confidence etc. Then deliver it in one comprehensive guide. But that is unlikely, so I’ve decided to deliver little bits...

  Recently I was developing a SQL Server Analysis Server cube using Oracle as a data source. Weirdly the the development environment (BI Dev Studio) could see the Oracle schema & let me explore the data. But when I tried to process the cube or...

This post is not about a unique body of work, it is just a list of links to materials I’ve found useful. I hope it may make it easier for me to point people here rather than have them write down or remember URL’s If you are looking for SQL Add-in’s, Utilities...

Apple releases the iPatch for software Pirates ®  (pronounced Arrrh … me hearty's!)   Note: This might not be true, but I think of it every time I hear the word iPad. Now you can too.   If I worked for Apple it would only be a matter of...

Yes SQL 2008 R2 has reached a major milestone, on the 21st Apr 2010 the news went to the world SQL2008 R2 has gone “Release To Manufacturing (RTM)”. This means that the Development Team (& many others) have signed it off as complete. It then takes...

While this has little to do with Data & I am far from a DIY dude. Just thought I’d mention the Bosch PMF180E All Rounder . Just cause it is such a handy tool. I had some rot in my wooden deck & needed to cut out some wooden panels precisely on...

Action Please consider taking this 1 page survey. & give your feedback to this team. http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2shn6xwg6n3fotc/start Why? Recently a number of the Microsoft Data Mining folks decided to start up their own company...

Every now & then the politically correct world of Microsoft overlooks the cultural diversity of another nations gutter humour.  Today I stumbled across one such example, it brought a slight smile to my face, the System.IO.Path. IsPathRooted Method...

Occasionally, especially in large corporate clients, I find myself looking at a file extension wondering “what sort of application created that?”. Most often the file is intended to be a source of data for an SSIS extract & no-one can recall the legacy...

Following on from my review of my library. This week, Programming Microsoft SQL Server 2008. Summary: It appears to me that the authors started this book with the premise “There is a lot in SQL2008 that can dramatically change the way you architect solutions...

Following on from my review of my library. This week, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Internals. Summary: This is not as the title might suggest, “special” information for elite DBA’s. It contains the base knowledge that all DBA’s need in order to understand...

If everything is bug free in Development, Testing, User Acceptance Testing (UAT) how can it possibly go wrong in Production? The following post looks at how that can occur… Intermittently. Recommendation: Ensure that the Server Names & SQL Instance...

When executing code in SQL Server Management Studio. Occasionally people make errors. If you find yourself counting thru your TSQL Batch up to “LINE 231” where your error is supposed to be, then this tip is for you.   Tip: Double Click on the Error...

If you want to compile sample code or write your own extensions for Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition GDR (also known as DBPro or Datadude) this post will save you hours. Summary In Nov 08 when Microsoft shipped the GDR (General Distribution...

Have you ever written a TSQL SELECT statement that builds INSERT Statements so you can script the entire table? Usually we do it to make it simple to create & load a “Reference or Lookup” table? Sure, Most DBA’s have. This Waay Cool little feature...

SQL Server Management Studio has so much capability, yet most people I meet don’t seem to have read the manual to discover it. So I thought I might post a few of features I find invaluable. This works for SQL 2005, SQL2008, SQL2008 R2 & Visual Studio...

At Tech-Ed Aust last week I had an interesting evening with a few people chatting about finding information & how hard it is to judge the value of textbooks when you are looking online. As I am an avid reader & have a huge library a few of my...

SQL Management Studio has a very nice Scripting feature that generates scripts to DROP & CREATE your stored procedures, tables & other objects. This is handy, but not good for production systems. Most people use it, … to their peril. This post...

I’m unsure if this is a BUG or “By Design” but for me it is unexpected & likely to cause your application to hang if you aren’t aware of it. So one more article in my “TSQL Best Practise” or “Good TSQL Coding Standards” posts. Summary: If you assign...

I tend to forget about this little gem, so this post more of a reminder to me, that I hope you will find handy too. Ramp Up: eLearning Site Official News I’m happy to announce that we’ve just launched 3 brand new learning tracks on Ramp Up * ( www.MyRampUp...

If you develop high scale, scale out/distributed apps, check out Microsoft Project Code Named “Velocity” Community Technology Preview 3 (CTP3) Released to Web on 7 April 09. "Velocity" is a distributed in-memory application cache platform for...