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SQL SERVER – System Objects Not Visible in SQL Server Management Studio

Pinal Dave
SQL Tips and Tricks
SQL Server, SQL Server Management Studio, System Object
1 Comment

There are so many settings in SQL Server Management Studio that it can sometimes make someone nervous. Once of my client sent me email telling that something is not right with their SQL Server 2016 installation. Here is an email which I received:

Hi Pinal,
One of the developer has installed SQL Server 2016 on our development environment. I already had SQL Server 2014 running on the server. I am seeing a strange behavior in SQL Server Management Studio. When I connect from SSMS 2014, I am seeing system views as you can see below.

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SQL SERVER – How Much Free Space I Have in My Database?

Pinal Dave
SQL Interview Questions and Answers
SQL Scripts, SQL Server
15 Comments

This is one of the simplest query that I wrote for one of my consulting customers who asked me. When I was discussing with the customer on some of the best practices of working with SQL Server, I was telling him not to use the autogrowth as a regular feature to use. I wanted the DBA to make sure that the autogrowth never gets called. The immediate question was – how do I know I need to increase my database files? When should I be doing them? In What maintenance cycle should this be done to find Free Space.

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SQL SERVER – Vertical Select Mode feature in SQL Server Management Studio

Pinal Dave
SQL Tips and Tricks
SQL Server, SQL Server 2012, SQL Server Management Studio
13 Comments

During last SQL Bangalore user group meeting, Balmukund presented a surprise session of tips and tricks with SQL Server Management Studio. Even though I was not able to attend the event due to travel abroad, I contacted Balmukund to share what he presented.

He was kind enough to give me a list. One of the things which I didn’t know was the usage of vertical block select mode. I have been using block select mode to cut the text by selecting it. This needs a mouse and I found that there is no keyboard shortcut.

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Sort Query Using Dynamic Variables Without EXEC – Interview Question of the Week #074

Pinal Dave
SQL Interview Questions and Answers
SQL Order By, SQL Scripts, SQL Server
12 Comments

It does not matter which version of SQL Server we are using, I think this question is going to be there universally all the time when people want to sort query using dynamic variables. Trust me, this is indeed a popular question. After 14 years of experience in the industry, just last week, I was asked this question when one of my clients was evaluating me to tune their queries. Well, for a moment I thought the client should know that I know these kind of questions. Next moment, I realize that this is my opportunity to impress them as they do know the answer.

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SQL SERVER – Event ID 107- Report Server Windows Service (MSSQLSERVER) cannot connect to the report server database.

Pinal Dave
SQL
Reporting Services, SQL Error Messages, SQL Log, SQL Server
3 Comments

Generally, I like to pick and choose the way various services are installed when working with SQL Server. I am careful not to have unnecessary services like “Reporting Services”, “Agent” etc running. I install them and keep them in a switched off state because I don’t like to keep eating away the resources on my PC during startup. But this is more of a best practice in general, I see not many doing.

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SQL SERVER – Maintain Carriage Return (Enter Key) in SQL Server 2016 Management Studio While Copy and Paste

Pinal Dave
SQL Tips and Tricks
SQL Server, SQL Server 2016, SQL Server Management Studio, SQL String, SSMS
40 Comments

With every new release some of the default behavior can surprise because you are so much used to them. But when they don’t behave the same, it baffles to when some of these changes were introduced. In pursuit of finding such behavior, while I was working with SQL Server 2016 Management Studio, I was surprised to see a behavior which didn’t seem to be right. You can also try it too.

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SQL SERVER – Puzzle – Solve Splitting Strings Puzzle

Pinal Dave
SQL Puzzle
SQL Function, SQL Scripts, SQL Server, SQL String
47 Comments

Some puzzles come as legacy and a great way to do sometimes interviews. In the past, I have written some innovative solutions when it comes to splitting strings inside SQL Server. One of them is at: SQL SERVER – Split Comma Separated List Without Using a Function. Though this is a good solution, many have some back to say this is not a clean or a native way to work with strings. Let us learn about Splitting Strings puzzle.

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Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 22 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.

Pinal has authored 14 SQL Server database books and 94 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.

Pinal is an experienced and dedicated professional with a deep commitment to flawless customer service. If you need help with any SQL Server Performance Tuning Issues, please feel free to reach out at pinal@sqlauthority.com.

Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).

Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.

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