A quick Friday SQL puzzle on the Bit Wise Operator: SELECT 10 & 10 returns 10, so why do 10 & 0 and 1 & 100 both return zero?
SQL SERVER – Start Services or Stop Services with PowerShell – Question to Readers?
A reader asks why you need the -Force flag to stop services with PowerShell but not to start them. I do not know the answer, so I am asking you.
SQL SERVER – Simple Puzzle with UNION – Part 2
Another back to basics puzzle with UNION: run three queries using UNION ALL, ORDER BY and DISTINCT, then compare their execution plans.
SQL SERVER – Simple Puzzle with UNION
Try this simple puzzle with UNION and ORDER BY. Guess what each of the three queries returns, and see why one of them fails with Msg 108 and Msg 104.
SQL SERVER – Relationship with Parallelism with Locks and Query Wait – Question for You
In server properties, Locks and Query Wait sit under the Parallelism section next to MAXDOP and cost threshold. I do not know why. Do you?
SQL SERVER – Puzzle #1 – Querying Pattern Ranges and Wild Cards
Readers often ask about querying pattern ranges. Wild cards are the usual answer, but not everyone uses them well. Solve my puzzle for a chance to win a book.
SQL SERVER- Solution – SQL Puzzle of SET ANSI_NULL
The solution to my Puzzle of SET ANSI_NULL: why IN returns a row but NOT IN returns nothing when the list has a NULL, and how SET ANSI_NULLS ON explains it.