Meet the TRY_CONVERT function in SQL Server Denali. It behaves like CONVERT, except a failed conversion gives you NULL rather than an error.
SQL SERVER – Denali – Conversion Function – TRY_PARSE() – A Quick Introduction
A quick introduction to the TRY_PARSE function in SQL Server Denali: it converts a string to a number or date, and returns NULL when it cannot.
Converting XML Documents to JSON With FOR JSON PATH
A partner asks for JSON from your XML export. Build the nested shape, decide what an empty order looks like, and avoid the escaped-array surprise.
SQL SERVER – Denali – Conversion Function – PARSE() – A Quick Introduction
A quick introduction to the PARSE function in SQL Server Denali: convert a string to a number or a date and time, and see what happens when it fails.
What a Preview Build Is For, and What It Is Not
Use a SQL Server preview to test specific features and report reproducible issues while keeping production data and recovery paths separate.
What Is a Data Warehouse?
A data warehouse is built for questions, not transactions. Facts and dimensions in plain words, why the star schema reads the way people talk, what a date dimension is for, and when you do not need one.
AT TIME ZONE Cost: Converting Many Rows Without Burning CPU
Converting a whole column with AT TIME ZONE looks harmless on three rows and hurts on a hundred thousand. Here is the cheaper way to filter a local day.