Converting values with CAST can round in ways you don’t expect. A puzzle on Date Data Types: guess the output of each query before you run it.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – Cannot initialize the data source object of OLE DB provider “Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0” for linked server
Cannot initialize the data source object of OLE DB provider Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0 showed up only from the client machine. Here is why and the fix.
Create an Azure VM for SQL Server Using the Portal
To create an Azure VM for SQL Server, pick a SQL Server image in the portal, size the machine, and set the network and SQL options before you press Create. This post walks through each portal tab, explains which choices are hard to change later, and ends with three T-SQL checks to run once you are connected. It also covers the cost of leaving the machine running.
Why an Encrypted Column Shows NULL on a Subscriber
An encrypted column shows NULL on a subscriber when the subscriber’s symmetric key doesn’t match the publisher’s key. This post reproduces the symptom with two demo databases, compares key_guid in both and shows the fix. It also explains what replication copies and what it leaves behind.
Oracle to SQL SERVER Migration – Triggers Used While Migration
Moving from Oracle to SQL Server is like switching phones: old habits come along. A client tuning case about the triggers used during the migration.
query_store_query_text: Searching Query History by Statement Text
A LIKE search on Query Store text is a good first step, but one search found four statements, including itself. I show how to narrow it down to the real history.
SQL SERVER 2016 – Trace Flag 1117 is Discontinued. Use the Options Provided with ALTER DATABASE
SQL Server 2016 discontinued trace flag 1117 and 1118 for TempDB. Use the options in ALTER DATABASE instead, as I found on a client server.
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.

