This ANSI_NULLS puzzle starts with two queries that look alike, and only one returns a row. The tests here explain the NULL logic behind IN and NOT IN, show what SET ANSI_NULLS OFF still does on SQL Server 2025, and give a safer pattern for real queries.
Reseed an Identity Column in SQL Server: SQL in Sixty Seconds #051
To reseed an identity column, run DBCC CHECKIDENT with the RESEED option. The tests here show which value comes next after existing rows, DELETE and TRUNCATE, and what happens when the new value collides with a key.
Remove a Cached Connection in SSMS: SQL in Sixty Seconds #049
To remove a cached connection from the SSMS Connect dialog, delete the entry from the Server name list. The tests here show that the list lives on the client, how three entries can reach one server, and how to check where an old entry points before you delete it.
Enable SQLCMD Mode in SSMS: SQL in Sixty Seconds #048
To enable SQLCMD mode in SSMS, use the Query menu or set it as the default for new windows. This post tests :connect, :setvar, :r, !! and :on error exit with sqlcmd.exe on SQL Server 2025 and shows the Msg 102 error you get when the mode is off.
Cannot Resolve the Collation Conflict (Msg 468): SQL in Sixty Seconds #047
Cannot resolve the collation conflict is Msg 468, and it appears when two text columns use different collations. I reproduced it on SQL Server 2025 with a temp table, found the mismatched columns with a query and tested three fixes, from a COLLATE clause in the query to changing the column itself.
SQLAuthority News – How to Avoid Procrastination – Professional Development #001 – Video
The first video in our professional development series, led by Nupur Dave, is about how to avoid procrastination and stop putting things off.
SELECT a Single Row in SQL Server: SQL in Sixty Seconds #046
To SELECT a single row for a quick look at a table, set up an SSMS query shortcut that runs SELECT TOP 1. The tests here show which row comes back, how an index or a heap changes it, what it costs on a 200,000 row table and when to add ORDER BY.