3. Hot Articles
Tip: Avoid Using Trace Flag 2861 to Cache Zero-Cost Query Plans
by Brian Moran, brian@solidqualitylearning.com
Trace flag 2861 causes SQL Server to cache query plans for trivial queries that have a cost of zero or close to zero. Enabling trace flag 2861 seems reasonable if you need to see all queries that are running, but doing so on a busy server can create severe performance problems. Find out what can happen in this scenario by reading this complete tip today at http://www.sqlmag.com/Articles/ArticleID/44845/44845.html.
T-SQL Black Belt: PIVOT on Steroids
Build a better PIVOT operator by encapsulating workarounds in a powerful procedure that uses dynamic SQL. Read this article today and post your comments at http://www.sqlmag.com/Article/ArticleID/94268/sql_server_94268.html.
Puzzled by T-SQL: Palindromes Puzzle
In this week’s blog, Itzik Ben-Gan introduces a querying puzzle: producing palindromes with T-SQL. Up for the challenge? Read the puzzle and send your response to Itzik today at http://www.sqlmag.com/article/articleid/94917/sql_server_blog_94917.html.
Hot Threads:
4. Events and Resources
Consolidating SQL Server Deployments
Does your SQL Server deployment suffer from low utilization rates, sub-optimal availability, and management challenges? Learn to overcome these difficulties by deploying a data clustering utility that can help lower your cost of ownership by 70% and can react to database capacity changes within 30 seconds. On-Demand Web Seminar.
Put Consolidation on Your Short List
Information is the "I" in "IT." Do you know where your information is? Is it protected? Backed up? Download this free podcast today to learn the top 5 reasons that you should be considering storage consolidation.
Enhance Reporting Services
SQL Server Reporting Services is an exciting way for organizations to gain access and insight into the important business data they store in SQL Server. Get an overview of how to increase your production server's performance by offloading Reporting Services to a secondary server. Download your free copy today!
See the complete Windows IT Pro Network guide to Web and live events.
5. Featured White Paper
The Power of DataWindow in .NET
Ready to get serious about data-driven applications? Get unparalleled data access and presentation capabilities and give your users access to the critical business information they need. Download this free white paper today to find out more and begin developing with .NET!
6. Reader Challenge
January Reader Challenge Solution: Converting a Hexadecimal String to a Varbinary Value
by Umachandar Jayachandran, challenge@sqlmag.com
The winner for the January Reader Challenge, "Converting a Hexadecimal String to a Varbinary Value" will be announced at a later date. Please watch for updates and read a recap of the problem and the solution to the January Reader Challenge at http://www.sqlmag.com/Article/ArticleID/94987/sql_server_94987.html.
February Reader Challenge: Check for an Empty Table
Now, test your SQL Server savvy in the February Reader Challenge, "Check for an Empty Table" (below). Submit your solution in an email message to challenge@sqlmag.com by February 1. Umachandar Jayachandran, a SQL Server Magazine technical editor, will evaluate the responses. We'll announce the winner in an upcoming SQL Server Magazine UPDATE. The first-place winner will receive $100, and the second-place winner will receive $50.
Here's the challenge:
Steve is a DBA who manages several SQL Server 2000 installations in his company. He needs to create a batch job that exports and imports several tables from the database servers. As part of the batch job, Steve would like to invoke a stored procedure that can determine whether a table is empty. According to the stored procedure result, he will then perform appropriate actions like executing DBCC SHOWCONTIG or DBCC DBREINDEX statements in his batch job.
Help Steve design a stored procedure that does the following:
1. Determines whether a table in a particular database is empty. (The tables can be present in different user schemas.)
2. Decides the appropriate parameters for the stored procedure and table name as a mandatory parameter.
3. Returns the status of the table (empty or not empty) as an output parameter.
Hot Spot: Quest Software
The Essential Guide to Jump Starting Your SQL Server Skills
Got information? Good! Now, can you use it? Get up to speed on database design and hierarchy, including columns and data types, creating databases, and using the Query Editor. Download your free copy today!
6. Announcements
Make Your Mark on the IT Community!
Nominate yourself or a peer to become "IT Pro of the Month." This is your chance to get the recognition you deserve! Winners will receive over $600 in IT resources and be featured in Windows IT Pro. It's easy to enter—we're accepting February nominations now, but only for a limited time! Submit your nomination today: http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/itpromonth.
SQL Server Performance-Tuning Articles and Tips
Check out the Net's largest site dedicated to SQL Server performance tuning. Get the most out of SQL Server with thousands of performance tuning articles/tips/FAQs for SQL Server 2000 and 2005. Join the forums and chat with more than 18,000 advanced SQL Server DBAs and developers. Click here: http://www.sql-server-performance.com.
7. Web Community
Contact Us
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