Map unsigned integers to SQL Server types without narrowing their range. Keep strict source-text validation separate from destination CHECK constraints.
SUBSTRING Binary: Count Bytes Rather Than Characters
SUBSTRING binary offsets use byte units. Keep text slicing separate from encoded payload slicing and retain empty and missing cases.
SQL SERVER – Default Statistics on Column – Automatic Statistics on Column
Does a column need an index to have statistics? No. A quick demo shows automatic statistics on column data when AUTO_CREATE_STATISTICS is on.
Count Distinct Pairs: Keep the Columns Together
Count distinct pairs by keeping their columns together. A small T-SQL example shows why concatenated labels can collide. Choose whether incomplete pairs belong in the count.
SIGN: Classify Positive, Negative and Zero Values
SIGN describes which side of zero an amount occupies. Preserve the original quantity and distinguish a zero value from missing input.
A Monthly Health Check You Can Run in Ten Minutes
Run a SQL Server health check that reviews backups, integrity-check evidence, file growth, users, build level, and space without guessing health.
SQLAuthority News – Guest Post – SELECT * FROM XML – Jacob Sebastian
Getting NULL when reading a value from XML? Most of the time the XPath expression is wrong. A guest post by Jacob Sebastian on writing it correctly.