Steve Jones

Cast That Data About! Most of the SQL Server DBAs I know use the CONVERT to change datatypes in their SQL code. However, this is not an ANSI standard and limits the portability. While I rarely see databases moving from SQL Server to some other RDBMS, I have seen it happen. Also, as more SQL […]

Introduction One of the constructs that I find myself building quite often is a process that periodically retrieves an incremental amount of data. So many reports that I build, whether for myself or for others, are looking for the new data since some x amount of time. It might be the sales for the last […]

Introduction I decided to start making notes as I designed a database to hold the articles that I am writing. When I started writing, it was easy to keep track of what I submitted. Not that I am writing for more than one publisher and they have different editorial cycles (some as long as 4-5 […]

In small companies, one thing that I have often run into with client-server accounting systems is that a machine will lock up while running some process (like posting a batch). Then the user will go to another machine and try the same process. That machine will lock up and the user will continue to repeat […]

This is a continuation of string manipulation techniques. If you are interested, you can read the other articles, though you do not need to read it before this one. These are mostly beginning programming articles, but advanced T-SQL programmers may still find something useful here. Part 1 deals with SUBSTRING and how it can be […]

This is a continuation of string manipulation techniques. If you are interested, you can read the other articles, though you do not need to read it before this one. These are mostly beginning programming articles, but advanced T-SQL programmers may still find something useful here. Part 1 deals with SUBSTRING and how it can be […]

This is a continuation of string manipulation techniques. If you are interested, you can read the other articles, though you do not need to read it before this one. These are mostly beginning programming articles, but advanced T-SQL programmers may still find something useful here. Part 1 deals with SUBSTRING and how it can be […]

I provided some SQL questions for an interviewer in Who Do You Hire? to ask of a candidate. I had a couple requests for answers, so I decided to provide some. I would recommend you check the questions first before you read these. This is a cross product or a full outer join. The number […]

Introduction Finding good employees is getting to be tougher everyday, especially in the Rocky Mountain area where I live and work. The shortage of IT workers is very real in a number of hot areas in the country, and as of November 2000, Denver is one of those areas. My company is constantly looking for […]

Introduction There are many queries and processes that a DBA may perform on an SQL Server that run quickly and efficiently with small amounts of data, but do not scale up when run on large sets of data. The power behind a RDBMS and SQL Server come from the extremely efficient and rapid processing of […]

Introduction I get emails quite often from DBAs, mostly from junior DBAs or those new to the field, but occasionally an intermediate level, all of whom are wondering where should they focus, what skills are required, etc to be a successful SQL Server DBA. Since I am only a SQL Server DBA (for now 🙂 […]

Introduction Everyone has naming standards in their company. If they do not, they should. It makes everything easier for all employees. Developers learned long ago that having naming standards in place makes it easier to train new developers, troubleshoot code, and reduces errors. The same holds true for SQL Servers. If something is standardized, then […]