Please stop using this UPSERT anti-pattern
There is a very common anti-pattern you should avoid, involving updating a row if it exists and inserting it if it doesn't. See how to avoid race conditions and deadlocks.
Sometimes you CAN upsize a column in-place
Altering a fixed-width column on a large table can often mean either a lot of planning or a lot of downtime, but in some scenarios there may be an easy out.
Altering a column ONLINE might still be a disruptive, size-of-data operation
We had a case where we increased a varchar column's size, ONLINE, but it caused significant downstream effects. See why.
Help improve STRING_SPLIT without threatening backward compatibility
There are some limitations with STRING_SPLIT that could be overcome, but the cleanest solution might be to add a new function altogether.
SQL Server 2016 SP2 Cumulative Update #14
SQL Server 2016 SP2 Cumulative Update #14 is available, with 18 enhancements. The build number is 13.0.5830.85.
Using Taylor Swift to explain my job to my 7-year old
My daughter surprised me with a question about work last week, and I answered her by invoking Taylor Swift.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #6
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #6 is available, with 51 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4053.23.
A reliable and flexible replacement for sp_MSforeachdb
Find out about the replacement I wrote for the undocumented, unsupported, and ill-advised system procedure, sp_MSforeachdb.
Some weekend maintenance here on sqlblog.org
A quick update on some maintenance I performed on the site over the weekend.
Troubleshooting Error 18456
Updated in 2020 with a few new entries, this is a fairly comprehensive list of the reasons behind various 18456 error messages.
T-SQL Tuesday #128 : Learn From Others
For this month's T-SQL Tuesday, Kerry Tyler asks us to talk about something that went wrong. I had plenty to choose from, and went way back to ~2002 for this short story.
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #21
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #21 is available, with 35 enhancements. The build number is 14.0.3335.7.
Be an ally and a nuisance
Encourage PASS to show they are a diverse and inclusive community.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #5
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #5 is available, with 86 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4043.16.
Keep relevant system_health data longer
See two ways you can make the relevant data in the system_health session last longer and not get drowned out by noise.
T-SQL Tuesday #127 : Measure twice, cut once
For this month's T-SQL Tuesday, let's talk about something you're more likely to hear from a carpenter: Measure twice, cut once.
Replace legacy splitting functions with STRING_SPLIT
See how to work around some of the blockers for replacing legacy UDFs with STRING_SPLIT.
SQL Server 2016 SP2 Cumulative Update #13
SQL Server 2016 SP2 Cumulative Update #13 is available, with 29 enhancements. The build number is 13.0.5820.21.
Get to the system_health file target a little easier
Access the system_health file target without tedious string parsing gymnastics.
Index and Partition Space Usage – Part 3
This series shows how I determine the amount of data distributed across indexes, files, filegroups, and partitions.
Heaps, LOBs, and aggregates : A bad combination
Dig into an intermittent stack dump involving an aggregate query against a heap with a LOB column.