A collation conflict means character expressions use incompatible comparison rules. I choose the intended rules before applying COLLATE.
SQL SERVER – 2005 T-SQL Paging Query Technique Comparison (OVER and ROW_NUMBER()) – CTE vs. Derived Table
Paging in SQL Server 2005 with ROW_NUMBER: CTE vs. derived table. I compare both methods and show they give the same performance for common queries.
SQL SERVER – Retrieve – Select Only Date Part From DateTime – Best Practice
Selecting the date part and formatting it are different tasks. I keep typed dates for calculations and text for display.
SQL SERVER – Fix : Error : Msg 9514 Xml data type is not supported in distributed queries. Remote object ‘OPENROWSET’ has xml column(s)
Msg 9514 means a distributed query touched an XML column. Why the type cannot cross a linked server, and four ways to get the data across anyway.
SQL SERVER – Insert Multiple Records Using One Insert Statement – Use of UNION ALL
Insert multiple records with one INSERT statement by combining SELECT and UNION ALL, instead of a separate INSERT for every row. SQL Server 2008 has a newer way.
How to Read a T-SQL Syntax Diagram
Read a T-SQL syntax diagram without guessing: brackets mean optional, braces mean required choices, pipes separate options, and dots repeat items.
How to Read a SQL Server Build Number
Learn how a SQL Server build number identifies the engine release, maps to a cumulative update, and explains differences between two instances.