Backup Files From Azure Storage need a retention review before removal. I list the candidates before approving any cleanup.
How to Write Case Statement in WHERE Clause? – Interview Question of the Week #127
How to write CASE statement in WHERE clause? First, CASE is an expression, not a statement. Here is how to use it for optional search conditions.
SQL SERVER – Msg 15137, Level 16 – Error Related to sp_xp_cmdshell_proxy_account
A client using a proxy account to run xp_cmdshell hit Msg 15137 with sp_xp_cmdshell_proxy_account. Here is what causes the error and how I fixed it.
FORMAT Function in SQL Server: Dates, Numbers and Speed
The FORMAT function turns a date or a number into text with one pattern, and it needs SQL Server 2012 or later. This post shows the patterns for dates and numbers, the culture argument, and the lower case mm that silently returns minutes instead of the month. It also measures FORMAT against CONVERT over 200,000 rows, so you know when to use which.
SQL SERVER – Not Able to Kill SPID with KILL WITH STATUSONLY
Can’t kill SPID with KILL WITH STATUSONLY? It reports a rollback, it does not start one. Why KILLED ROLLBACK lasts, and why to wait.
SQL SERVER – Loopback Linked Servers and OPENQUERY with Current Drivers
A LoopBack Linked Server connects back to the same SQL Server instance. I review its provider, identity and transaction restrictions first.
Measure Page Splits in SQL Server With T-SQL
To measure page splits in SQL Server, read the Page Splits/sec counter twice and subtract the first reading from the second. This post loads a table with sequential keys and another with random keys, so you can see which splits are normal and which cost you. It also names the index behind the splits and shows how a lower fill factor removes most of them.