UNICODE returns an integer for the first character, and supplementary-character support affects that integer. I make the collation explicit when interpreting those values. Otherwise the same visible input can produce a misleading comparison.
COALESCE Fallbacks: Empty Text Is Still a Supplied Value
COALESCE fallbacks keep empty text and spaces as supplied values. Apply an empty-value policy before choosing a display name.
Auditing Who Has sysadmin
Audit who has sysadmin in SQL Server, including direct members and Windows groups, then investigate nested access and forgotten logins.
SQL SERVER – What is – DML, DDL, DCL and TCL – Introduction and Examples
What are DML, DDL, DCL and TCL? A short introduction to the four groups of SQL commands, with examples like SELECT, CREATE, GRANT and COMMIT.
SQL SERVER – Time Out Due to Executing DELETE on Large RecordSet
Why does a DELETE on large recordset time out? When you want every row gone, use TRUNCATE instead, but keep in mind it resets the identity value.
Conditional COUNT: ELSE 0 Counts Nonmatching Rows
Conditional COUNT includes zero when CASE returns it. I compare an omitted ELSE with a zero branch before aggregating. A no-match group and an empty input expose the difference from SUM.
SQL SERVER – 2005 – Change Compatibility Level – T-SQL Procedure
The safe way to change compatibility level in SQL Server 2005: single user mode, sp_dbcmptlevel, then multi user again, and how to check it.
SQL SERVER – Reclaim Space After Dropping Variable – Length Columns Using DBCC CLEANTABLE
DBCC CLEANTABLE can reclaim selected space left after dropping variable-length columns. I distinguish that table operation from shrinking a database file.
SQL SERVER – 2005 – Display Fragmentation Information of Data and Indexes of Database Table
How do you find Fragmentation Information for a table in SQL Server 2005? DBCC SHOWCONTIG has limits, so I use sys.dm_db_index_physical_stats instead.
SQL SERVER – Execute Same Query and Statement Multiple Times Using Command GO
Need to run the same statement several times without copy and paste? Put a number after the command GO, like GO 5, and SQL Server runs the batch that many times.