| Basics for working with DATETIME and SMALLDATETIME in SQL Server 2005: Learn how data is stored within DATETIME and SMALLDATETIME and get an overview of the TIMESTAMP data type -- as it's often confused with these two primary date/time data types. |
| SQL Server data conversions from date/time values to character types: Learn two built-in functions for SQL Server data conversion from T-SQL date/time values to character types. These methods include SQL Server CAST and CONVERT. |
| How to use rank function in SQL Server 2005: With ranking functions in SQL Server 2005, you can rank rows in result sets. This tip defines rank functions and gives examples of how to use the four available functions. |
| Exception handling best practices in SQL Server 2005: SQL Server 2005 brings you TRY/CATCH, a new T-SQL feature that helps find and address errors before they reach application code. Get best practices for working with it. |
| Create DDL table in SQL Server 2005 to audit DDL trigger activity: Create DDL table in SQL Server 2005 to audit Data Definition Language (DDL) trigger events when DML statements run. Define DDL trigger to track SQL changes. |
| Using the OUTPUT clause for practical SQL Server applications: Learn how using the OUTPUT clause in SQL Server 2005 queries simplifies T-SQL code and returns results of rows changed by an INSERT, UPDATE or DELETE SQL command. |
| Optimize T-SQL data types in SQL Server: To optimize Transact SQL (T-SQL) data types in SQL Server, learn how each type affects performance -- I/O, RAM and CPU in SQL Server. |
| Top 10 T-SQL tips for improved SQL Server development: Find out how to script SQL Server backups, why T-SQL in SSIS has pros and cons and what to do about poorly written T-SQL code that's causing SQL Server performance problems. |
| T-SQL error handling with Try…Catch blocks: T-SQL Try…Catch block for SQL Server exception handling has new, improved functions to handle errors when executing T-SQL code in SQL Server 2005. |
| T-SQL performance problems and solutions: Not all SQL Server performance problems are database-related. Poorly written T-SQL code could be to blame. Identify query problems and then get the workarounds in this clinic. |
| T-SQL commands vs. XML AUTO in SQL Server: XML functions may use more resources than standard T-SQL commands. Here are some performance implications when comparing XML AUTO with T-SQL commands. |
| Top 10 SQL Server development questions: SQL Server development can put you in a crunch. Get solutions here when it comes to concurrency problems, stored procedure results and writing T-SQL. |
| Top 10 SQL Server development tips of 2008: From converting date/time values into character types to retrieving XML data values with XQuery, these were the top 10 SQL Server development topics of 2008. |
| Additional T-SQL operations in SQL Server 2008: Learn how scalar operators, global variables and NULL values can be utilized in Transact-SQL in SQL Server 2008 in this book excerpt. |
| SQL Server 2008 function types in T-SQL: Functions in Transact-SQL can be either aggregate functions or scalar functions. This excerpt from "Microsoft SQL Server 2008: A Beginner's Guide" describes both. |
| Using T-SQL data types in SQL Server 2008: Learn the numerous data types used in SQL Server 2008's Transact-SQL language in this excerpt from "Microsoft SQL Server 2008: A Beginner's Guide." |
| Basic objects of T-SQL in SQL Server 2008: Discover the basic objects that drive T-SQL in SQL Server 2008 in this excerpt from "Microsoft SQL Server 2008: A Beginner's Guide." |