Compare CHARINDEX vs PATINDEX, test literal and wildcard searches, preserve positions, and use SQL Server 2025 REGEXP_INSTR when needed.
How to Find Queries Running in Parallel in SQL Server
To find queries running in parallel, read max_dop and the CPU to elapsed ratio from the query stats view, then confirm with the plan XML. This post tests both on a two million row table. It also explains why the same query stays serial until its cost passes the threshold.
SQL SERVER – FIX – Property IsLocked is Not Available for Login
Opening sa login properties in SSMS failed with Property IsLocked is not available for Login. I used Profiler to find the query returning NULL, and here is the fix.
Median Day Planning: Time Management That Survives a Normal Week
Median day planning means sizing your week around a typical day, not your best one. This post shows how to measure your own median in ten workdays, split work into a commit list and a stretch list, and keep a small buffer. Your plan then survives a normal week.
Test Data That Looks Like Production
Test data that looks like production matches distributions, relationships, and volume without copying sensitive values into development.
SQL SERVER – FIX – Server principal ‘Login Name’ has granted one or more permission(s). Revoke the permission(s) before dropping the server principal
DROP LOGIN failed with Msg 15173 because the login had granted one or more permission(s) after an AlwaysOn cleanup. Here is how to find and revoke them.
SQL SERVER – Fix – Error: Msg 468, Level 16, State 9, Line 1
Msg 468 says SQL Server cannot resolve the collation conflict between two columns. I explain why it shows up, including with temp tables, and how to fix it.