SQL SERVER A Web Based Search for Books Online Buck Woody provides links to macros for MSDN search that will give the search bar in your browser the ability to search online inside Books Online. This has become my go to method for searching BOL. It’s much faster than opening the desktop BOL client and the results are typically exactly what I need. The Third Pillar – Fundamentally Sound Louis Davidson discusses the third (of seven) pillars of database design.

Originally, a long time ago, I became interested in programming primarily as a means of information visualization. (Well, truthfully, back in 2000/2001 I wanted to have my own blog but I got distracted and eventually learned how to do other things.) Anyway, once I discovered some of the ideas in the field ofinformation architecture and, later, through the IxDA I was hooked. One of the principle ideas that stuck with me is that information must have a structure and must be searchable in order to be useful to a consumer.

SQL SERVER How MySpace.com is running on SQL Server Video talk about the MySpace backend. Good stuff. Microsoft® Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition Power Tools The VSTSDD Power Tools are some sweet extensions to visual studio that will make life much much easier for anyone who is using Database Developer GDR. My personal favorite is sqlspp.exe which takes the SQLCMD scripts that are generated on deploy and turns them into something that anyone can run in SSMS.

I’m going to guess everyone can guess that DB_NAME() will give you the name of the current database when called with no parameters. If not, now you know. PATINDEX() is a little bit more fun, so before we get into things, here’s how PATINDEX() works:``` DECLARE @my_var AS NVARCHAR(30); SET @my_var = ‘fun with patterns’; SELECT PATINDEX(’%pattern%’, @my_var); – returns 10 PATINDEX() returns the position of the pattern in the search expression.

SQL SERVER Database Manager for IIS 7 RC Preview IIS 7 has a lot of great features built-in, not the least of which is its ability to host mini-apps. Ever use PHPMySQLAdmin? Ever wish you had a tool like that for SQL Server? Now you do. Developers rejoice, you no longer need to install SSMS after Visual Studio installs a copy of SQL Server that you can only access programmatically. Database Maintenance Best Practices Part II – Setting FILLFACTOR Ever want to know more about FILLFACTOR than you ever thought you wanted to know?

Every time you do something major to the database, you need to create a backup. Repeat that three times. Then a few more times. Then do what I did and completely forget to follow the rules. Our production environment consists of a master database that is replicated to multiple servers. There are non-replicated tables that we need to backup on a routine basis since the replicated data can easily be recovered in the event of a catastrophic failure but this other data would just disappear into the ether.

SQL SERVER SQL Server and NULL Values, Revisited Aaron Alton takes a good look at NULL values and makes reference to post on the same topic. They both provide good information and well-founded opinions on NULLs and their place in the database. Does a GUID make a good clustered key? This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart and if you’re ever within earshot of me, please don’t mention that you use GUIDs for your clustered indexes.

First off, why did I title this “Crafting Presentations” instead of something along the lines of “How to Write a Kick Ass Presentation”? Two reasons. One, I didn’t want to. Two, I think that there’s more involved in a presentation than writing. Yes, there is a lot of writing involved in a presentation, but it’s a different kind of writing than a targeted blog post. A presentation has to quickly convey information to an audience that might only be marginally interested in the topic or who might just be there for the free pizza, although I hope people come to my user group for more than free pizza and soda.

SQL SERVER Index-Index-Index-Index-GOOSE! (Part One) The always short, and occasionally humorous, Tim Ford dives into the statistics DMVs and returns with a good explanation of what they are and how to use them. Suggested DBA Work Plan If you’re like me, you’re not a production DBA, yet. I’m an accidental DBA who became a development DBA who is happily on his way to becoming a production DBA. Rod Colledge put together a great list of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to help keep your database running smoothly.

How many of you out there have had production issues? You, the liar in the back, put your hand up. Well, we experienced a major performance issue in production last week. For those that don’t know, I’m not a production DBA. I’m what they call a “development DBA.” I write stored procedures, tune the SQL, write indexes, and work with developers to ensure speedy data access. As someone who comes from the software development world, it’s a logical place to be.