GREATEST and LEAST compare several expressions within one row. These typed decimal examples show negative numbers, ties, partial NULLs and an entirely missing row.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL_VARIANT_PROPERTY: Inspect Decimal Precision and Scale
SQL_VARIANT_PROPERTY makes underlying types visible. Inspect explicit decimal widths, int, Unicode capacity and a missing variant value.
SQL SERVER – How to Rename a Column Name or Table Name
How to rename a column or a table in SQL Server with sp_RENAME, with a video and a simple AdventureWorks example for each case.
Recursive CTE Performance: Index the Child Lookup
Recursive CTE performance depends on finding the next children efficiently. Compare identical rows and actual plans before accepting an index change.
SQLAuthority News – 4 Million Visits – over 675 SQL Server Articles
Thank you to every reader: this blog has reached 4 Million Visits and over 675 SQL Server articles, and I was awarded SQL MVP along the way.
SQL SERVER – Fix : Error : 40 – could not open a connection to SQL server – Fix Connection Problems of SQL Server
Still stuck on Error 40, could not open a connection to SQL server? Here are more suggestions to fix connection problems, beyond my first two articles.
SQL SERVER – 2008 – Configure Database Mail – Send Email From SQL Database
Configure Database Mail in SQL Server 2008 in three steps: create a profile and account, configure email, then send email. Video and screenshots included.
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.
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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.
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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.

