Find free time slots with GENERATE_SERIES, exclude overlapping bookings, and merge busy intervals before calculating calendar gaps.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – FIX: Msg 9514 – XML Data Type is Not Supported in Distributed Queries
Querying a table with an XML column over a linked server fails with Msg 9514: XML data type is not supported in distributed queries. Here is the fix.
SQL SERVER – Copy Data From SSMS Query Result to Excel
How do you copy data from an SSMS query result to Excel? It is simple, but not everyone knows it: right-click the results and save them as a CSV file.
Clear the Plan Cache for a Single Database in SQL Server
To clear the plan cache for one database, use ALTER DATABASE SCOPED CONFIGURATION CLEAR PROCEDURE_CACHE in that database. This post tests it on two small databases, compares it with DBCC FLUSHPROCINDB and with freeing a single plan, and explains why DBCC FREEPROCCACHE is a bad habit.
Reduce IO Waits in SQL Server: Read the Waits First
To reduce IO waits in SQL Server, first name the wait. This post explains the main IO wait types and measures two of them for a single session on a demo database. It then shows how to check file latency and which fix matches each wait.
Finding the Plan That Changed: Query Store Plan History
Read Query Store plan history, compare duration by interval, find plan changes, and review a temporary force with an exit plan.
When to Use sort_in_tempdb for Rebuilding Indexes? – Interview Question of the Week #207
When should you use sort_in_tempdb for rebuilding indexes? A DBA asked me in a Health Check, and the simple answer is when TempDB sits on fast, separate drives.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
In my Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, you share your screen, I guide you, and we fix your biggest performance troublemakers. No passwords. No remote access.
You keep every script, and the know-how to fix it yourself next time.
Want your whole team to learn it?
My Practical Workshop has no PowerPoint, just live demos. My AI Enablement Workshop shows your team where AI saves hours, and where it quietly costs them.
Over 400 customers have worked with me this way, and not one shared a password. See all consulting options.
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.

