Changing log growth strategy in SQL Server 2022
I discuss my roller coaster of emotions since learning that SQL Server 2022 would support instant file initialization for log files.
I discuss my roller coaster of emotions since learning that SQL Server 2022 would support instant file initialization for log files.
In this tip, I take a quick look at some changes to Always Encrypted that make it easier to use.
I've long been pro-schema-prefix, but in this post I talk about an exception to the rule at Stack Overflow, and why it works well.
I show how GENERATE_SERIES makes for easier set building, and decent alternatives while you're still stuck on older versions.
While it might promote less than ideal practices, I show how to use a DDL trigger to keep views in sync with a volatile schema.
In the final part of this series, I convert my T-SQL code to MySQL, so you can build a fancy archives page in WordPress.
I show that a new experimental feature in Docker 4.16+ lets you run "real" SQL Server on Apple M1+ chips.
For my first post on Simple Talk, I rip apart a made-up stored procedure as if I had encountered it during a code review.
Over a decade of posts and videos involving bad habits and best practices in SQL Server.
In the second part of this series, I show how to use a calendar table to simplify rendering an archives page.
A good round of updates for most modern versions of SQL Server, including the first cumulative update for SQL Server 2022.
I started a short series on building visual calendars, like those seen in the monthly archives page here.
I discuss an organization’s responsibility for protecting personal information.
I talk about some of the pivotal criteria guiding how Stack Overflow will migrate to Azure.
In part 3, I show how to automate creating new tables, dropping old tables, and adjusting the view.
In part 2, I look at general strategies for partitioning an archive table (even without Enterprise!) to reduce long-term data movement.
In this series, I look at strategies for archiving data and how it can impact your entire infrastructure.
For October's T-SQL Tuesday, Steve Jones asks us to talk about ways we've used dynamic SQL to solve problems.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #18 is available, with 26 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4261.1.
In this tip, I show how to simplify calculations involving nth weekday or non-weekday, with and without a calendar table.
For this month's T-SQL Tuesday, I talk about a not-quite-yet-announced feature in SQL Server 2022 that has the potential to function as a low-effort bad habit logger.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #17 is available, with 43 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4249.2.
I talk about ways to use wrapper functions to work around tedious syntax required by the new function, GENERATE_SERIES.
On the 10th anniversary of SQLPerformance.com, I look back on my favorite posts – one from each year.
For this month's T-SQL Tuesday, Deb Melkin asks us get up on our favorite soapbox. I have so many, but this time I picked a new one…
Logging tables can grow unchecked for years, and date range queries against them get more and more expensive if they don't use the clustered index. Read about one way I've mitigated this problem.
Using a fictitious future timeline, I explain how CUs and GDRs differ and why build number alone might not tell the whole story.
In this tip, I show some real-life reasons why you may not want to create all the partitions you'll ever need up front.
I talk about why I prefer CONVERT over CAST to be consistent. Basically, if you sometimes HAVE to use only one, why not just ALWAYS use that one?
A new build is available for SQL Server 2016 SP2 and SP3. From the CVE: "An authenticated attacker could exploit the vulnerability by executing a specially crafted query using $ partition against a table with a Column Store index."
A new build is available for SQL Server 2014 SP3. From the CVE: "An authenticated attacker could exploit the vulnerability by executing a specially crafted query using $ partition against a table with a Column Store index."
There are often multiple ways to express a query and get the same results, often without any change in performance. Learn about one example.
In this tip, I talk about the compatibility between major versions and SQL Server's internal database version.
I continue looking at some of the changes in SQL Server 2022 that aren't on the marketing slides.
I warn about a cumbersome change to setup, where something is checked by default when it shouldn't be.
The first public preview of SQL Server 2022 is here! Read about my favorite T-SQL enhancements.
Today I received a mind-blowing award for my 200th tip at MSSQLTips.com.
In 2015, I wrote about a stored procedure to find strings within all tables across all user databases. In this follow-up tip, I enhance the procedure to optionally include views and search within specific databases.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #16 is available, with 47 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4223.1.
I show how to piece together portions of SQL Server metadata to generate DBML (which is more useful than it sounds).
I wrote two tips around what you can do when a table that stores the same strings over and over again has grown to an unmanageable size: create a dimension table!
I talk about why every CTE I write starts with a semi-colon, and why you won't change my mind about it.
A recent documentation update raises questions about the love-it-or-hate-it READ UNCOMMITTED isolation level.
In this tip I show how I combine GROUPING SETS and PIVOT to get crosstab-style reports without Excel.
In the second part of this series, I show two ways to shift expensive computations to write time.
I talk about progress in aggregating strings – both in the functionality offered by SQL Server and the quality of my own code samples.
In this tip I confirm that FORMAT is still a dog compared to even very complex expressions using CONCAT_WS, DATENAME, DATEPART, and CONVERT.
I was honored to be a guest on the most recent Mixed Extents podcast, along with my friend and colleague Andy Mallon, where we talked about patching SQL Server.
I harassed Erik Ejlskov Jensen enough to make me a universal command-line version of SqlQueryStress, and walk you through setting up a performance test between an Intel and M1 MacBook.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #15 is available, with 39 enhancements (35 public). The build number is 15.0.4198.2.