Don Schlichting

Introduction Grouping records is the process of combining like SELECT columns together. Once combined, Aggregate functions such as SUM and AVERAGE can be performed on the set. This article will examine several SQL Server 2008 grouping functions including GROUP BY, GROUPING SETS, CUBE, and ROLLUP. In addition, we’ll demonstrate how to use SUM and COUNT […]

Introduction Each column in a SQL Server Table can only contain one specific predefined type of data, such as characters or numbers. This declaration is called a Data Type. In this article, we’ll compare and contrast the various SQL Server 2008 Data Types. In addition, we’ll explore which Data Types are the best solutions for […]

Introduction This article will examine the Recovery Model options used by SQL Server 2008 and the various methods that can be used to backup a database such as Differential and Transaction Logging. In addition, Transaction Logs, the mechanism that makes Recovery Models possible will be introduced. Backups, Transaction Logs, and Recovery Models are interlinked and […]

Introduction In this article, we’ll examine backing up and restoring SQL Server databases. In addition to covering standard backup options such as Full Backups and Differential Backups, new SQL Server 2008 features such as Backup Compression will be introduced. Backing up from the SQL Server Management Studio as well as from the command line will […]

Introduction This article will introduce SQL Server, what it is, and why to use it. We’ll examine when to use a database as well when not to. In addition, we’ll introduce some of the key terms used with SQL Server. What is a SQL Server? SQL Server is a Microsoft product used to manage and […]

Introduction The goal of this article is to create an Employees database in SQL Server and populate it with test data in three quick steps. No theory or lengthy technical explanations are given. Just concise instruction for those that want to quickly see what SQL Server is. If you are familiar with Access, MySQL, Oracle, […]

Introduction Profiler is tool that monitors the events and activity running on a SQL Server. Using profiler, this monitoring can be viewed, saved, and replayed. The results can be saved to a file or inside a SQL Server table. Some of the tasks Profiler can be used to perform include stress testing a server, analyzing […]

Introduction Profiler is a tool that monitors the events and activity running on a SQL Server. Using profiler, this monitoring can be viewed, saved, and replayed. The results can be saved to a file or inside a SQL Server table. Some of the tasks Profiler can be used to perform include stress testing a server, […]

Introduction SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008 provide graphical reports for monitoring system health and performance. While there have always been various queries, stored procedures, and of late, Dynamic Management Views, to gather system statistics, none were graphical. These new reports provide a quick easy way to print off a professional looking report for […]

Introduction BLOBs files are binary data, in other words, not text. Files like an MP3, exe, or pictures are all examples of BLOBs (Binary Large Objects). Often, these types of files may be part of a larger database project. The question usually arises as to how and where to store them, on the File System […]

Storing Images and BLOB files in SQL Server Part 3 Introduction In the first two articles of this series, BLOBs were defined along with scenarios of when to store them inside SQL Server rather than on the file system. Several different types of VARBINARIES were introduced, including the VARBINARY(MAX) data type which will be the […]

Introduction This article will focus on using the SQL Server Binary data type to store small image files. In Part 1 of this series, the definition of binary and BLOBs (Binary Large Objects) was discussed, as well as when to store them in SQL Server. A few reasons to store images or binary data inside […]