A reader on SQL Server 2016 got Invalid object name STRING_SPLIT when trying the new function. Here is why the error shows up and how to fix it.
SQL SERVER – Puzzle – How Does YEAR Function Work?
SELECT YEAR(35000/20) returns 1904, which looks strange. This puzzle shows how the YEAR function treats a plain integer. Can you explain the result?
What is Alternative to CASE Statement in SQL Server? – IIF Function – Interview Question of the Week #164
What is the alternative to CASE statement in SQL Server? The IIF function. Here are two examples of CASE and IIF, and why IIF deserves more use.
SQL SERVER – Puzzle – Get the First Name From Full Name Without CHARINDEX
A puzzle from a health check: get the first name from full name without CHARINDEX. Here is the sample table and data, so you can try your own answer.
How Does TOP WITH TIES Work in SQL Server? – Interview Question of the Week #159
Question: How Does TOP WITH TIES Work in SQL Server?
Answer: This is an ancient question I just encountered in the recent Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check.
How to Find DISTINCT COUNT of Column Rows Without Using Distinct Count Keywords? – Interview Question of the Week #157
Only one of ten candidates solved this: find the DISTINCT COUNT of a column without using those keywords. Here are the traditional answer and the trick.
SQL SERVER – Performance Observation of TRIM Function
Does the new TRIM function slow your queries like other functions in a WHERE clause do? Here is my performance observation of TRIM function in SQL Server 2017.