SQL Server 2016 Service Pack 3
Service Pack 3 is now available; the build is 13.0.6300.2 and there are 43 enhancements.
Category: SQL Server
Why I don't like the WHILE (1=1) pattern
In this tip, I discuss one way to help avoid infinite loops in common while loop patterns.
Bad Habits and Best Practices
An index of over a decade's worth of posts and videos involving bad habits and best practices in SQL Server.
Finding problematic NOLOCK patterns – Part 4
In part 4, I show how to include ad hoc DML queries in the analysis.
Finding problematic NOLOCK patterns – Part 3
In part 3, I tie it together and show how to use relational logic to further eliminate false positives.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #12
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #12 is available, with 40 enhancements (29 public). The build number is 15.0.4153.1.
Finding problematic NOLOCK patterns – Part 2
In part 2, I show how to identify problematic NOLOCK patterns across multiple databases and multiple instances.
Finding problematic NOLOCK patterns – Part 1
I start a new series on identifying and removing problematic NOLOCK hints from update and delete statements.
T-SQL Tuesday #140 : What have you been up to with containers?
For T-SQL Tuesday #140, Anthony Nocentino asks us what we have been up to with containers.
Deprecated features to take out of your toolbox – Part 3
I explain why you should eliminate the data types text, ntext, and image from your environment.
SQL Server 2019 Adventures on CentOS 7.5
After thinking setting up SQL Server 2019 on CentOS 7.5 was going to be a piece of cake, I explain how my team helped resolve a TLS issue preventing remote connections.
How to USE a Calendar Table – Part 3
For the last part in my series on using a calendar table, and with some help from Itzik Ben-Gan, I describe how you can solve complex scheduling problems.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #11
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #11 is available, with 62 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4138.2.
How to USE a Calendar Table – Part 2
In this part of my "using a calendar table" series, I talk about filling gaps and identifying gaps and islands.
How to USE a Calendar Table – Part 1
It seems a lifetime ago I wrote about creating a calendar table; now I've started a new series showing how to use the calendar table. In the first installment, I deal with business day problems.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #10
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #10 is available, with 63 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4123.1.
SQL Server 2016 SP2 Cumulative Update #17
SQL Server 2016 SP2 Cumulative Update #17 is available, with 20 enhancements. The build number is 13.0.5888.11.
Deprecated features to take out of your toolbox – Part 2
I use a real-world example showing why you shouldn't use deprecated functionality like SQL Server Profiler.
When does SQL Server think YYYY-DD-MM is a valid date?
In this tip, I talk about cases where SQL Server will interpret YYYY-MM-DD as YYYY-DD-MM, which is less than optimal.
Deprecated features to take out of your toolbox – Part 1
I talk about one scenario where the system table sys.sysprocesses almost led us down the wrong path.
Enforcing unique constraints where order doesn't matter
After seeing this question pop up on forums multiple times, I wrote a quick tip about enforcing unique constraints where order doesn't matter.