Finding the nth Maximum Value means deciding how ties should count. Here, I rank distinct known salaries.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – Locking Hints with Correct Scope and Safe Examples
Locking Hints change how a table reference participates in locking. I choose the required consistency before changing the query.
SQL SERVER – SELECT vs. SET Performance Comparison
SELECT vs. SET for local variables: SELECT can assign several at once and runs faster in a loop, while SET is the ANSI standard and assigns one at a time.
SQL SERVER – Difference Between Unique Index vs Unique Constraint
Unique Index vs Unique Constraint: is there a difference? No. A unique constraint creates a unique index, and performance is the same. Syntax for both.
SQL SERVER – Enable xp_cmdshell using sp_configure
Enable xp_cmdshell with sp_configure: turn on show advanced options, set xp_cmdshell to 1 and run RECONFIGURE. The full script is ready to run in SSMS.
Bitwise Flags: Test, Add and Toggle Individual Bits
Bitwise flags use AND to test, OR to add and XOR to toggle a mask. Keep flag meanings explicit and preserve missing values in read-only examples.
SQL SERVER – Alternate Fix : ERROR 1222 : Lock request time out period exceeded
ERROR 1222: Lock request time out period exceeded. Find the blocking transaction with DMVs, and what to change when you are not allowed to kill it.
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.
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.

