Build ordered comma lists with STRING_AGG and WITHIN GROUP, remove duplicates, handle nulls, and avoid fixed-length result limits.
SQL SERVER – Cryptography in SQL Server 2008
A brief look at cryptography in SQL Server 2005 and 2008: why encryption belongs at the engine level, its effect on performance, and authentication basics.
SQL SERVER – Plan Caching and Schema Change – An Interesting Observation
What counts as a schema change for plan caching? More than table structure: adding or dropping an index also qualifies, per Greg Low’s white paper.
geometry STDimension: Count Dimensions, Not Points
geometry STDimension describes dimensionality rather than the number of coordinates. A mixed collection reports its highest-dimensional element.
Finding Databases Nobody Uses
Finding databases nobody uses requires index activity, connection samples, job searches, and owner evidence before an offline trial.
Finding Unused Logins and Users Before an Audit
Review unused logins with password metadata, database mappings and activity capture, then use an owner approved disable-first plan.
Color-Coding Production Connections in SSMS
Color-coding production connections in SSMS adds a visual warning, while an identity query confirms the real destination.