Here are the top 10 most viewed SQL Server development tips of 2007. From best practices for writing stored procedures and creating SQL Server tables and columns, to T-SQL enhancements and error handling with Try…Catch blocks in SQL Server 2005, these were the topics that made you click in 2007.
#1 -Examples of SQL Server stored procedures and parameters
How can SQL Server stored procedures be helpful if you don't know they exist? Database architect Denny Cherry shares 18 examples of handy stored procedures and their parameters that have gone undocumented by Microsoft.
#2 -Temporary tables in SQL Server vs. table variables
Once you've written your T-SQL code, it's time to execute it. You'll most likely need a table in which to store data temporarily. Our SQL Server database architect explains your four options while offering the pros and cons of using temporary tables vs. table variables in SQL Server.
#3 -Differences between varchar and nvarchar in SQL Server
The differences between varchar and nvarchar for SQL Server data types are detailed here by SQL Server expert Serdar Yegulalp. Learn how each data type is stored differently, how to mix and match them and what changes were made to varchar and nvarchar in SQL Server 2005.
#4 -Q&A: Writing stored procedures in SQL Server 2005
When writing stored procedures in SQL Server 2005, you have options beyond T-SQL. Our contributor explains the benefits of writing stored procedures using CLR (Common Language Runtime) and how to convert existing stored procedures to the CLR model.
#5 -T-SQL error handling with Try…Catch blocks
T-SQL Try…Catch blocks in SQL Server 2005 are key for transaction management via error handling. Also called exception handling, error handling now offers developers improved capabilities and system functions to handle errors when executing T-SQL code. Learn about them here.
#6 -Creating SQL Server tables and columns: Quick tips to know
Performance of a SQL Server table can depend on how you've defined data types, indexes, partitions and other components. Use this best practices guide when creating tables and columns for large databases.
#7 -SQL Server blob data types for accessing and storing data
Data types available for storing blob data in SQL Server have been static for many years, but in SQL Server 2005, Microsoft introduced many new data types. This tip examines the various data types and explains how to use them to store and access blob data.
#8 -Use table-valued parameters for SPs in SQL Server 2008
With table-valued parameters in SQL Server 2008, ordinary stored procedures have extraordinary abilities. Pass variables as parameters in your stored procedure and save time by making significantly fewer calls to SQL Server and fewer writes against the database. Learn more about these new features in SQL Server 2008.
#9 -'Out-of-range datetime value' error in SQL Server when working with dates
Have you ever been stumped by this error message: "conversion of char data type to datetime data type resulted in an out of range datetime value"? Discover causes and fixes for the frequently seen error message in SQL Server.
#10 -New T-SQL features in SQL Server 2005
Have you experienced the new T-SQL features in SQL Server 2005? Database administrator Eric Johnson outlines four of SQL Server's hottest T-SQL development features: error handling, ROW_NUMBER function, DDL triggers and CLR.
