NULL is fun to ask about in interviews, since every answer I get is different. A short puzzle on NULL that raises Error 8117, and how to fix it.
SQL SERVER – Standard Reports from SQL Server Management Studio – SQL in Sixty Seconds #016 – Video
SSMS comes with many built-in performance and activity reports. This sixty second video shows where to find the Standard Reports and how to run them.
SQL SERVER – SmallDateTime and Precision – A Continuous Confusion
SmallDateTime and precision confuse a lot of people. I explain what the precision really is, using a Facebook question from Raghavendra.
SQL SERVER – Get Schema Name from Object ID using OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME
Many people join sys.tables and sys.schemas to get a schema name from an object ID. The OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME function does it in one simple call.
SQL SERVER – Columnstore Index and sys.dm_db_index_usage_stats
My Columnstore index DMV script failed on SQL Server 2012 RTM because sys.column_store_index_stats was gone. What I found next, with sys.dm_db_index_usage_stats.
Filling Template Parameters in SSMS With Ctrl+Shift+M
Template parameters save you from typing one value in four places, but they only paste text. Here is what that means in practice.
SQL SERVER – Quiz and Video – Introduction to Hierarchical Query using a Recursive CTE
Learn to write a hierarchical query using a recursive CTE with a short video and a quiz on an employee and manager table. Check your answer.