SQL Server Magazine March 2008

[Focus]
Get the facts about the new data compression feature in SQL Server 2008 and the stored procedure that can help you estimate how much space you might save by compressing your data.
By Orin Thomas
The new Extensible Key Management feature makes SQL Server’s built-in database encryption more secure by supporting third-party encryption providers, so that you can store keys outside of the database.
By Randy Dyess
[Features]
Build a sample application in Visual Studio that can be used to manage hierarchical rowsets populated by stored procedures.
By William Vaughn
More answers to DBAs' questions. What’s the difference between dividing an integer with NULL or zero, or between a unique constraint and a primary key constraint, or between decimal and numeric data types? And how do you retrieve random rows from a table?
By Pinalkumar Dave
Whether you are new to T-SQL or you just want to brush up on the basics, you'll want to read and save this guide that walks you through how to write SELECT statements. Learn how to order and rename columns and how to filter and sort results.
By Bill McEvoy
[Editorial]
Choose which server consolidation method is right for you. Mike Otey walks you through factors to consider for your organization.
By Michael Otey
[T-SQL Black Belt]
SQL Server 2008’s MERGE statement simplifies the task of merging source data into a target table.
By Itzik Ben-Gan
[New Products]
Check out new and improved SQL Server-related products from OmBelt Solutions, Red Gate Software, ScriptLogic, Future IT Software, and Stimulsoft.
By Jeff James
[SELECT TOP(X)]
VS 2008 adds support for new technologies such as AJAX, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), and Language-Integrated Query (LINQ), and more.
By Michael Otey
[Tool Time with Kevin Kline]
You can use this tool to quickly and easily test how a query will affect your system performance.
By Kevin Kline
[PTO for the Rest of Us]
SQL Server 2005 offers a relatively easy way to determine which SQL Server statements are causing you the most pain. A built-in DMV does the trick.
By Andrew J. Kelly
[Sqlmag.com Community Dialog]
A reader asks Douglas McDowell a question about his PerformancePoint Server Eye on BI article, forum members debate SQL Server trace methods, and Rodney Landrum updates his repository solution, in direct response to readers' feedback.
By Anne Grubb
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