Are the posted questions getting worse?

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Are the posted questions getting worse?

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ChrisM@Work SSC Guru Points: 186127 More actions · Answer 1

GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
ChrisM@Work (7/30/2012)
Someone's just posted a reply to a request from Gail and my best guess is that she's fallen of her chair laughing. You're a bad lady, Gail. 😎
Could you perhaps be specific about why I'm bad? No RotFL responses so far that I;ve seen.

Gail: "Try ordering your output by a constant, using a bit of code cleverly disguised to look like a magical ordering doodah thingy".

OP: "That's it, you've cracked it".

^{“Write the query the simplest way. If through testing it becomes clear that the performance is inadequate, consider alternative query forms.” - Gail Shaw}

For fast, accurate and documented assistance in answering your questions, please read this article.
Understanding and using APPLY, (I) and (II) Paul White
Hidden RBAR: Triangular Joins / The "Numbers" or "Tally" Table: What it is and how it replaces a loop Jeff Moden

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 2

ChrisM@Work (7/30/2012)
GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
ChrisM@Work (7/30/2012)
Someone's just posted a reply to a request from Gail and my best guess is that she's fallen of her chair laughing. You're a bad lady, Gail. 😎
Could you perhaps be specific about why I'm bad? No RotFL responses so far that I;ve seen.
Gail: "Try ordering your output by a constant, using a bit of code cleverly disguised to look like a magical ordering doodah thingy".
OP: "That's it, you've cracked it".

That was actually a serious suggestion, but only for the purposes of creating a new table with that new column immediately (before data growth causes the plan to change).

Basically that says 'I want a row number ordered by whatever you like' and the optimiser being lazy just assigns the constants in whatever order it finds the resultset at the time the row number is assigned.

Use that as part of an insert or select into and you can preserve a random order, but by itself it doesn't guarantee any order at all.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

ChrisM@Work SSC Guru Points: 186127 More actions · Answer 3

GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
ChrisM@Work (7/30/2012)
GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
ChrisM@Work (7/30/2012)
Someone's just posted a reply to a request from Gail and my best guess is that she's fallen of her chair laughing. You're a bad lady, Gail. 😎
Could you perhaps be specific about why I'm bad? No RotFL responses so far that I;ve seen.
Gail: "Try ordering your output by a constant, using a bit of code cleverly disguised to look like a magical ordering doodah thingy".
OP: "That's it, you've cracked it".
That was actually a serious suggestion, but only for the purposes of creating a new table with that new column immediately (before data growth causes the plan to change).
Basically that says 'I want a row number ordered by whatever you like' and the optimiser being lazy just assigns the constants in whatever order it finds the resultset at the time the row number is assigned.
Use that as part of an insert or select into and you can preserve a random order, but by itself it doesn't guarantee any order at all.

Understood, and it will preserve the order of the output set in the new table - but (if and) when the plan changes and the output order changes, it will preserve that too, surely? I can't yet see how it will help. Mondays, don't you love 'em?

^{“Write the query the simplest way. If through testing it becomes clear that the performance is inadequate, consider alternative query forms.” - Gail Shaw}

For fast, accurate and documented assistance in answering your questions, please read this article.
Understanding and using APPLY, (I) and (II) Paul White
Hidden RBAR: Triangular Joins / The "Numbers" or "Tally" Table: What it is and how it replaces a loop Jeff Moden

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 4

The point is you do it once and check it. He checked and said that the row number does at the moment show the correct order. So you add that to the query once and insert into a table (which he said is what's being done). Then you have a permanent column to order by next time and from then onwards

Basically, once off:

Select <stuff>, RowNumber... as SomeOrder

Into NewTable

FROM <table>

Then after that

SELECT <stuff>

FROM NewTable

Order By SomeOrder

Key statement from that post:

Now here is the problem - i need to have a row_number added to this query, so i can transfer this order to a new table (i am going to have a field used for ordering). But I cant do row_number as i dont know the order by fields.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

ChrisM@Work SSC Guru Points: 186127 More actions · Answer 5

GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
The point is you do it once and check it. He checked and said that the row number does at the moment show the correct order. So you add that to the query once and insert into a table (which he said is what's being done). Then you have a permanent column to order by next time and from then onwards
Basically, once off:
Select <stuff>, RowNumber... as SomeOrder
Into NewTable
FROM <table>
Then after that
SELECT <stuff>
FROM NewTable
Order By SomeOrder
Key statement from that post:
Now here is the problem - i need to have a row_number added to this query, so i can transfer this order to a new table (i am going to have a field used for ordering). But I cant do row_number as i dont know the order by fields.

Can't knock it - it answers the OP's question.

^{“Write the query the simplest way. If through testing it becomes clear that the performance is inadequate, consider alternative query forms.” - Gail Shaw}

For fast, accurate and documented assistance in answering your questions, please read this article.
Understanding and using APPLY, (I) and (II) Paul White
Hidden RBAR: Triangular Joins / The "Numbers" or "Tally" Table: What it is and how it replaces a loop Jeff Moden

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736193 More actions · Answer 6

Hmmm, I go to SQL Saturday #144 and this thread goes from water cooler to technical discussion.

Nice to see you all playing relatively nicely.

Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 7

Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/30/2012)
Hmmm, I go to SQL Saturday #144 and this thread goes from water cooler to technical discussion.
Nice to see you all playing relatively nicely.

That's just because we didn't know you were gone. See, don't tell us and we behave. :w00t:

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 8

Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/30/2012)
Hmmm, I go to SQL Saturday #144 and this thread goes from water cooler to technical discussion.

I'm sorry. Won't happen again.

Change topic: What to do with a week on a desert island. </gloat>

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

SQLRNNR SSC Guru Points: 281334 More actions · Answer 9

GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/30/2012)
Hmmm, I go to SQL Saturday #144 and this thread goes from water cooler to technical discussion.
I'm sorry. Won't happen again.
Change topic: What to do with a week on a desert island. </gloat>

Which desert island?

Mauritius (nice beaches and if you stay on the beach could be called a desert island)? La Reunion (prefer to think of dessert in this case)? Other?

Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 10

SQLRNNR (7/30/2012)
GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/30/2012)
Hmmm, I go to SQL Saturday #144 and this thread goes from water cooler to technical discussion.
I'm sorry. Won't happen again.
Change topic: What to do with a week on a desert island. </gloat>
Which desert island?
Mauritius (nice beaches and if you stay on the beach could be called a desert island)?

Yup. Only 4 hours away.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736193 More actions · Answer 11

GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/30/2012)
Hmmm, I go to SQL Saturday #144 and this thread goes from water cooler to technical discussion.
I'm sorry. Won't happen again.
Change topic: What to do with a week on a desert island. </gloat>

well, as long as it's not deserted, and stocked with drinks, I vote for packing lots of books. Also currency to exchange for alcoholic drinks.

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 12

Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/30/2012)
well, as long as it's not deserted, and stocked with drinks, I vote for packing lots of books. Also currency to exchange for alcoholic drinks.

Loooots of books going.

Don't drink alcohol, so the last is not required. Though money for nicknacks is.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

WayneS SSC Guru Points: 95460 More actions · Answer 13

GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/30/2012)
well, as long as it's not deserted, and stocked with drinks, I vote for packing lots of books. Also currency to exchange for alcoholic drinks.
Loooots of books going.
Don't drink alcohol, so the last is not required. Though money for nicknacks is.

Sounds wonderful Gail. I hope that you thoroughly enjoy yourself.

Wayne
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
Author - SQL Server T-SQL Recipes

If you can't explain to another person how the code that you're copying from the internet works, then DON'T USE IT on a production system! After all, you will be the one supporting it!

Links:
For better assistance in answering your questions
Performance Problems
Common date/time routines
Understanding and Using APPLY Part 1 & Part 2

SQLRNNR SSC Guru Points: 281334 More actions · Answer 14

GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
SQLRNNR (7/30/2012)
GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/30/2012)
Hmmm, I go to SQL Saturday #144 and this thread goes from water cooler to technical discussion.
I'm sorry. Won't happen again.
Change topic: What to do with a week on a desert island. </gloat>
Which desert island?
Mauritius (nice beaches and if you stay on the beach could be called a desert island)?
Yup. Only 4 hours away.

I am very jealous. I have been to Mauritius only once - 1995. I really want to get back there as a vacationer the next time.

Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events

Grant Fritchey SSC Guru Points: 398882 More actions · Answer 15

GilaMonster (7/30/2012)
Steve Jones - SSC Editor (7/30/2012)
well, as long as it's not deserted, and stocked with drinks, I vote for packing lots of books. Also currency to exchange for alcoholic drinks.
Loooots of books going.
Don't drink alcohol, so the last is not required. Though money for nicknacks is.

Have a great time.

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt

Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning