The Go-based sqlcmd adds modern commands and contexts, but ODBC sqlcmd scripts need flag, output, and exit-code tests before a swap.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – Simple Explanation of Data Type Precedence
A simple explanation of data type precedence: filter an INT and a VARCHAR column with N’1′ and N’First’, then see what the execution plan shows.
Indexed View Quiz: The Table and Clustered Index Confusion
An indexed view and its base table can each own a clustered index because they are separate objects. Inspect both owners in a SQL example and see why a view index does not give its base table a second clustered index.
SQL SERVER – Quickest Way to Identify Blocking Query and Resolution – Dirty Solution
A friend could not delete, truncate or drop a table at 11 PM because of open transactions. Here is my quick and dirty way to identify blocking query.
SQL SERVER – Error : Fix : Msg 5133, Level 16, State 1, Line 2 Directory lookup for the file failed with the operating system error 2(The system cannot find the file specified.)
Msg 5133 says directory lookup for the file failed with operating system error 2. A friend hit it on CREATE DATABASE, and here is what caused it.
SQL SERVER – Find Total Number of Transactions on Interval
How many Transactions run on your server per minute? A handy script reads sys.dm_os_performance_counters twice with a WAITFOR DELAY between the reads.
SQL SERVER – The Limitations of the Views – Eleven and more…
I had earlier written, interesting article series on the limitations of the views. I had a great time writing this series. I got many many requests.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
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You keep every script, and the know-how to fix it yourself next time.
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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.

