Auto update statistics can miss important data patterns; inspect thresholds, ascending keys, sampling, and targeted update schedules.
CONCAT: Missing Inputs Produce Present Text
CONCAT builds display text from available inputs. Preserve missing-source flags when output alone cannot prove completeness.
Unpivoting Columns Into Rows With CROSS APPLY and VALUES
Use CROSS APPLY and VALUES for unpivoting columns, retain nulls deliberately, preserve labels, and turn paired fields into aligned rows.
WITHOUT_ARRAY_WRAPPER: Keep JSON Cardinality Explicit
WITHOUT_ARRAY_WRAPPER needs a single-row JSON contract. Compare one object with two unwrapped objects and validate the complete generated text.
Finding the One Row That Broke Your Data Load
Trace a data load error to its source row with raw staging, TRY_CONVERT, stable row identifiers, and a rejection report that supports a safe retry.
SQL SERVER – DBA or DBD? – Database Administrator or Database Developer
My poll asked if you are a Database Administrator or Database Developer. Of 694 voters, 63.4% chose developer, so maybe DBD earns a dictionary spot.
SQL SERVER – Challenge – Puzzle – Why does RIGHT JOIN Exists
If LEFT JOIN does the same work, the puzzle is why RIGHT JOIN exists at all. Can you show a case where it is truly required? Share your answer.