Diagnose an index seek that reads far more rows than it returns by checking residual predicates, Actual Rows Read and index key order.
Joining Three Tables: Following the Keys Step by Step
Joining three tables is easier when you add one join at a time and check the row count after each step. This post builds a small bookshop query from Customers, Orders and OrderLines, adds the book titles, and shows how a missing join condition multiplies rows.
The Messages Tab in SSMS: Row Counts, Errors and Warnings
The Messages tab in SSMS shows what a query did, not what it returned. This post reads row counts, PRINT output, warnings and errors line by line, and explains what SET NOCOUNT ON changes.
Rows, Columns and Tables: How a Database Holds Information
Rows, Columns and Tables are the three ideas behind every relational database. A table holds one kind of thing, a column describes one fact about it, and a row records one item. This post builds a small Books table in SQL Server and reads it back by row and by column.
Readable File Sizes: Converting Bytes to KB, MB and GB
Turn raw bytes into friendly sizes without losing accuracy. Includes the overflow trap and the 500 GB drive that shows as 465.7.
Escaping Wildcards in LIKE: Searching for % and _ Literally
Handle escaping wildcards in SQL Server LIKE searches with brackets, ESCAPE, and a reusable function that preserves literal input.
Keeping Admin Scripts One Click Away in SSMS Template Explorer
Organize SSMS Template Explorer scripts, fill reusable parameters, review a copy-only backup, and preserve custom templates on disk.