07Jan 2009 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Table Valued Functions

T-SQL
I've been blogging for a whole nine months now. I decided to look back and see what's bringing people to the site. The number one search phrase is "sql server 2005 service pack 3" but the overwhelming topic that most people are using to get to the site are user defined functions, specifically multi-statement table valued user defined functions. It's completely understandable. Ever since I first saw these things in use back in SQL Server 2000, I thought they were slick. Unfortunately appearances can be deceiving. The reason so many people are searching out information on these things is because they just don't work very well. SQL Server can't create statistics on the tables generated through the multi-statement UDF. Because it has no statistics to work with, the query optimizer…
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18Dec 2008 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

2008 Index Fragmentation

Uncategorized
I forgot all about this, but a script I wrote on using all the new functionality of dynamic management views & functions to do index defragmentation and rebuilds got published over at SQL Server Central. It could stand a bit of tweaking, but gets the job done on several of the systems I've tested it on so far.
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18Dec 2008 by Grant Fritchey 15 Comments

Profiler Research

SQL Server
A question came up on SQL Server Central as to why or how Profiler could bring down the production server.  I was aware of the fact that Profiler caused problems and that's why you should always use a server-side trace on production systems. Duh! Of course.... But why? I didn't have an answer. I just "knew" what everyone told me. So I set out to do some research. Initially I hit my favorite source of information on SQL Server (and it should be yours too) the Books Online. Here is what I was reading on the architecture of Profiler. Good, but not enough. I still want more information, so I've gone out a'wanderin' through the interwebs. First, Linchi Shea has this great set of tests comparing Profiler to server side…
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15Dec 2008 by Grant Fritchey 10 Comments

PASS Evaluation Results

PASS
I received my evaluation results this afternoon (thanks so much Marcella). I had about 35 people attend the session and 11 took the time to respond. Overall, the session seems to have been well received. I had one person ding me for finishing early. I did finish early, but then we actually went over time on the Q&A session, so I think it was a wash. For my first time presenting in this type of environment, I find this to be useful feedback. I can see where Andy Warren is coming from in suggesting some questions that would be specifically helpful to the speaker would be nice. The questions are primarily aimed at determining whether or not the topic will be useful next year and whether or not the speaker…
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11Dec 2008 by Grant Fritchey 2 Comments

New England Data Camp v1.0

Misc, PASS
Adam Machanic of the New England SQL Server Users Group (among other things), has contacted the Southern New England SQL Server Users Group to ask us to take part in a one day SQL Server code camp. Of course we said yes. It's taking place at the Microsoft facility in Waltham on Saturday, January 24th. You can register here. If you're interested in speaking, speaker registration is here. I'll be listing the sponsors as they become available, but it will be a PASS event. As information gels around this, I'll continue posting updates.
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10Dec 2008 by Grant Fritchey 11 Comments

Whine

T-SQL
I'm working on the chapter on cursors. My editors thought my plan for the chapter was less than optimal. I wanted to have the chapter head Cursor Cost Analysis And then this would be the entire chapter: They cost too much. DO NOT USE THEM! Ah well. Guess I have to go through it and create all the silly examples. End of whine.
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10Dec 2008 by Grant Fritchey 3 Comments

Tagged Again, Two Mistakes

Misc
OK. I really do need to take a look at incoming links more often. This one was pointed out to me. Now I'm to provide two mistakes... Only two? This is another idea originating with Chris Shaw who apparently spends all day providing a duel service. He torments fellow DBA's and provides blogging fodder. I'm not sure which is more useful to the public. 1)  HUGE mistake. Way back, much earlier in my career, I thought I could do no wrong and learn anything I needed to learn within a week or so. First time I learned that wasn't true was when I claimed to be a database expert at the consulting company I was working for. They sent me off to a client where I proceded to trash a database…
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10Dec 2008 by Grant Fritchey 7 Comments

SQL Quiz Part 2

Misc
Gee, thanks TJay. I have apparently been tagged to take part in a quiz started by Chris Shaw. It's an experiment in learning where a series of people answer the same question, hopefully spreading some useful knowledge. The question: What are the largest challenges that you have faced in your career and how did you overcome those? This is tough. You could answer based purely on technical issues, what was my toughest technical challenge. You could talk about career issues, tough bosses, ignorant co-workers, incompetent subordinates, clueless clients. You could also talk about shifting jobs as companies fail or are mismanaged or you move. You could also talk about missed opportunities, when you faced the large scale challenges and didn't quite rise to the occasion. Anyway... My Answers) 1) My…
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