Measures

XML data type in SQL Server 2005 vs. VARCHAR (MAX)

Learn performance impacts of the XML data type and VARCHAR (MAX) data type in SQL Server 2005. Here are storage, I/O and CPU results of XML in SQL Server.

A Failed Jobs Monitoring System

One DBA's tale of how to monitor jobs for failure and ensure that the DBA is alerted to the fact that there is a problem. (from Feb 2008)

Data Access Tracing in SQL Server 2005

Learn how to apply the new tracing functionality in Microsoft data access technologies such as ADO.NET 2.0, MDAC 2.82, SQL Server Native Client, and the JDBC driver; and in the SQL Server network protocols and the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 database engine.

Object Dependencies in SQL Server

In this video, Randy Dyess shows you how important SQL Server dependencies are and some of the faults with SQL Server 2005 with these. For example, SQL Server will allow you to create a stored procedure that points to a table that doesn't exist. He also shows you how this problem has been corrected in SQL Server 2008.

Search for a text in all databases

This procedure searches for a specified text in all (or one selected) databases in all (or selected) tables.

Storing Images and BLOB files in SQL Server

This article explores the data types and methods used for storing BLOBs (Binary Large Objects), such as images and sounds, inside SQL Server.

SQL Server 2005 Best Practices Analyzer (January 2008) -- Now Available!

An upgrade to the Best Practices Analyzer from Microsoft is now available. Here's a blog post from the SQL CAT team.

2005 Blocking Locks RDL for Management Studio

RDL for use in MSSSQL 2005's Management Studio (custom reports).

Partitioning - Part 4

Continuing on with his series on table partitioning, Andy Warren takes a look at some fo the advanced features available in SQL Server Enterprise Edition.