SQL Server Diaries

I sometimes use the MSSQL Blocks application to monitor and especially collect information related to database locks.  I know that I could use an SQL Profiler trace or a Server-level trace however I found that this application is offers a “start and forget” approach. [Read More]

When accessing database objects, such as stored procedures, over a Linked Server the stored procedure output will be returned to the calling application.  There are occasions where we have to insert the results of the stored procedure into a temporary table to be used further on in our stored procedure.... [Read More]

This week’s article involves about another command line utility however before mentioning the utility I will skim a few particles off the surface of SQL Server storage. [Read More]

I was recently involved in a database migration project where the requirement was that the data in an SQL Server 2000 database is exported to separate files for archiving or uploading into another (unknown) database/DBMS. No problem there. Using the BCP command-line utility the data was exported easily. One of... [Read More]

An often overlooked and underestimated edition of SQL Server, the Express Edition superceded the SQL Server 2000 MSDE (Microsoft Data Engine) edition.  Introduced with the SQL Server 2005 lineup, this edition allowed applications requiring a small data store to be distrubuted without incurring the cost of a higher-end SQL Server... [Read More]