The background job queue holds work that SQL Server runs outside your queries, such as asynchronous statistics updates. This post lists the active jobs, reads the queue counters, catches a real statistics job in a demo and kills it with KILL STATS JOB. It also corrects a common mix-up: the command takes the job ID, not the session ID.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
Finding Queries the Application Cancelled With Attention Events
Capture attention events for canceled requests, read event-file XML, compare Query Store aborts, and inspect transaction cleanup.
Query Percentage Complete: Watch a Long Query Finish
Query percentage complete is not a column in any view, but sys.dm_exec_query_profiles reports how many rows each operator has produced against the plan’s estimate. This post builds a monitor query for a running statement, explains why a percentage can pass 100 or even run into the thousands, and shows which operators to trust.
How to Combine Time and Date in SQL SERVER? – Interview Question of the Week #285
Question: How to Combine Time and Date in SQL SERVER?
Answer: A very simple and popular question. Let us learn together.
Compute Scalar Operators: Why a Computed Column Shows Two
A plan that reads a computed column shows two Compute Scalar operators, and the second one looks like a mistake. This post compares three tables in the plan text: an expression in the query, a computed column and a persisted computed column. It shows what each of the Compute Scalar operators defines and whether the extra operator costs anything.
SQL Puzzle – Solution to Strange Results – IN and IS NOT NULL –
Earlier I had published a blog post about a puzzle SQL Puzzle – IN and IS NOT NULL – Strange Results. Today we will see a solution to strange results puzzle.
Logging Free Space per Volume Into a Table Each Day
Log free space per volume from SQL Server volume metadata, keep one daily sample per mount point, and compare change with LAG.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
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Who We Are
Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 24 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.
Pinal has authored 19 books and 125 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 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.
Shaivi Pinalkumar Dave is a book author and a women’s artistic gymnast.

