Are the posted questions getting worse?

  • jonathan.crawford (2/2/2016)


    Now it's not a db design class, but still, we should at least be attempting to teach students rather than handicap them, right? They'll screw up enough on their own...

    Similar problems at a couple of the South African universities. Some of the grads I taught a couple weeks back were quite irate about the difference in what I taught (and could show) and what they were taught at university.

    eg: "In and Exists are complicated operations, you don't need to know about them because they're almost never used". They never learnt subqueries or derived tables past ones in the SELECT clause either.

    Part of it, I think, is that the universities don't have/can't find 'data platform' people to teach the courses, and so they're taught out of text books and pre-conceptions.

    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
  • That is like the time I took a Visual FoxPro course at a company that taught various software course.

    The teacher was showing the older FoxPro way even though they should have been using the Visual way. Every time the teacher left the room people would ask me how to really do it as I had played with the software before going to the class I thought would instruct me.

  • SQLRNNR (2/1/2016)


    GilaMonster (1/30/2016)


    Ed Wagner (1/29/2016)


    Is it really that much better than SSMS intellsense? I'm asking because I don't know; not trying to start a riot.

    Oh, hell, yes. SSMS intellisense wastes more time than it saves due to its habits of autocorrecting strange things. SQLPrompt can be configured to activate when you want, not automatically, has some actual intelligence and saves me huge amounts of time.

    That's before we get to the auto-format script, auto-insert ;, auto-qualify columns, find invalid objects in the entire database, find unused parameters/variables in the current script, etc

    +1 for each point raised by Gail

    I kept turning it off because I type way faster than the stupid thing can react. And then it keeps misinterpreting my tabs and enters... Yeah, better to just give up on it and know the table / proc names.

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

  • Jo Pattyn (2/2/2016)


    To the experts of DBCC TIMEWARP

    Why can't system databases be restored "with move" like the others?

    Example: RESTORE database model with move -> The system database cannot be moved by RESTORE

    Your problem is that you expect RESTORE to work when the database has already BEEN restored. Just after before you thought about using DBCC TIMEWARP to do it.

    Two identical things can only exist in the same space / time if they have congruent phase particles set to ALTER. I don't remember what parameter it is to set this, but I'm sure Microsoft's Black Book of Undocumented Functional Procedures has it listed somewhere.

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

  • Brandie Tarvin (2/3/2016)


    Jo Pattyn (2/2/2016)


    To the experts of DBCC TIMEWARP

    Why can't system databases be restored "with move" like the others?

    Example: RESTORE database model with move -> The system database cannot be moved by RESTORE

    Your problem is that you expect RESTORE to work when the database has already BEEN restored. Just after before you thought about using DBCC TIMEWARP to do it.

    Two identical things can only exist in the same space / time if they have congruent phase particles set to ALTER. I don't remember what parameter it is to set this, but I'm sure Microsoft's Black Book of Undocumented Functional Procedures has it listed somewhere.

    If you have a copy of that book, I'd appreciate you posting it. πŸ˜‰

  • I guess its Azure now.

    Thanks for your input Brandie, got a possible workaround.

  • GilaMonster (2/3/2016)


    jonathan.crawford (2/2/2016)


    Now it's not a db design class, but still, we should at least be attempting to teach students rather than handicap them, right? They'll screw up enough on their own...

    Similar problems at a couple of the South African universities. Some of the grads I taught a couple weeks back were quite irate about the difference in what I taught (and could show) and what they were taught at university.

    eg: "In and Exists are complicated operations, you don't need to know about them because they're almost never used". They never learnt subqueries or derived tables past ones in the SELECT clause either.

    Part of it, I think, is that the universities don't have/can't find 'data platform' people to teach the courses, and so they're taught out of text books and pre-conceptions.

    Same here with a grad from a UK uni (now the new one in the department). On a good day they can join two tables and put a "where" in there. I spend more time working on their code than they do. :hehe:

    -------------------------------Posting Data Etiquette - Jeff Moden [/url]Smart way to ask a question
    There are naive questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand (the world). There is no such thing as a dumb question. ― Carl Sagan
    I would never join a club that would allow me as a member - Groucho Marx

  • Stuart Davies (2/3/2016)


    GilaMonster (2/3/2016)


    jonathan.crawford (2/2/2016)


    Now it's not a db design class, but still, we should at least be attempting to teach students rather than handicap them, right? They'll screw up enough on their own...

    Similar problems at a couple of the South African universities. Some of the grads I taught a couple weeks back were quite irate about the difference in what I taught (and could show) and what they were taught at university.

    eg: "In and Exists are complicated operations, you don't need to know about them because they're almost never used". They never learnt subqueries or derived tables past ones in the SELECT clause either.

    Part of it, I think, is that the universities don't have/can't find 'data platform' people to teach the courses, and so they're taught out of text books and pre-conceptions.

    Same here with a grad from a UK uni (now the new one in the department). On a good day they can join two tables and put a "where" in there. I spend more time working on their code than they do. :hehe:

    I got very lucky with the professor I had for my first DB class.

    She covered theory at a very high level as opposed to just teaching us how to "pound the keys".

    When we did have to write queries, her method was to assign problems that required us to come up with a design of the tables and the queries to produce the desired results. Anything over and above that was a bonus.

    We reviewed the entire classes solutions, compared the good and not so good, and learned a lot that has served me very well 20 years later.

    Michael L John
    If you assassinate a DBA, would you pull a trigger?
    To properly post on a forum:
    http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/61537/

  • Stuart Davies (2/3/2016)


    GilaMonster (2/3/2016)


    jonathan.crawford (2/2/2016)


    Now it's not a db design class, but still, we should at least be attempting to teach students rather than handicap them, right? They'll screw up enough on their own...

    Similar problems at a couple of the South African universities. Some of the grads I taught a couple weeks back were quite irate about the difference in what I taught (and could show) and what they were taught at university.

    eg: "In and Exists are complicated operations, you don't need to know about them because they're almost never used". They never learnt subqueries or derived tables past ones in the SELECT clause either.

    Part of it, I think, is that the universities don't have/can't find 'data platform' people to teach the courses, and so they're taught out of text books and pre-conceptions.

    Same here with a grad from a UK uni (now the new one in the department). On a good day they can join two tables and put a "where" in there. I spend more time working on their code than they do. :hehe:

    Are you teaching/mentoring as you work on their code with them?

  • Ed Wagner (2/3/2016)


    Stuart Davies (2/3/2016)


    GilaMonster (2/3/2016)


    jonathan.crawford (2/2/2016)


    Now it's not a db design class, but still, we should at least be attempting to teach students rather than handicap them, right? They'll screw up enough on their own...

    Similar problems at a couple of the South African universities. Some of the grads I taught a couple weeks back were quite irate about the difference in what I taught (and could show) and what they were taught at university.

    eg: "In and Exists are complicated operations, you don't need to know about them because they're almost never used". They never learnt subqueries or derived tables past ones in the SELECT clause either.

    Part of it, I think, is that the universities don't have/can't find 'data platform' people to teach the courses, and so they're taught out of text books and pre-conceptions.

    Same here with a grad from a UK uni (now the new one in the department). On a good day they can join two tables and put a "where" in there. I spend more time working on their code than they do. :hehe:

    Are you teaching/mentoring as you work on their code with them?

    Trying to, it depends if they are in a listening mood. I also try to back up the topic area under discussion with a couple of web links for reference, quite a few have been from here (well it's the first port of call usually)

    ETA Around half the department are aware of the lack of knowledge, but the boss isn't and the boss laps up the particular flavour of bovine excrement that flows from my colleagues lips.

    Behaviours like saying "That's what I meant to say" when a false hood is uncovered. Or, saying "Oh yes of course" when you ask "Do you know why your query isn't parsing?", then the next day asks for help with the same query which is failing at the point you were trying to make earlier. It is very, very trying on my patience.

    OK rant over, back to the day job.

    -------------------------------Posting Data Etiquette - Jeff Moden [/url]Smart way to ask a question
    There are naive questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand (the world). There is no such thing as a dumb question. ― Carl Sagan
    I would never join a club that would allow me as a member - Groucho Marx

  • Stuart Davies (2/3/2016)


    Behaviours like saying "That's what I meant to say" when a false hood is uncovered. Or, saying "Oh yes of course" when you ask "Do you know why your query isn't parsing?", then the next day asks for help with the same query which is failing at the point you were trying to make earlier. It is very, very trying on my patience.

    OK rant over, back to the day job.

    I don't it probably won't help and you likely know it already, but you aren't alone in this. Misery loves company, right? πŸ˜‰

  • Ed Wagner (2/3/2016)


    Stuart Davies (2/3/2016)


    Behaviours like saying "That's what I meant to say" when a false hood is uncovered. Or, saying "Oh yes of course" when you ask "Do you know why your query isn't parsing?", then the next day asks for help with the same query which is failing at the point you were trying to make earlier. It is very, very trying on my patience.

    OK rant over, back to the day job.

    I don't it probably won't help and you likely know it already, but you aren't alone in this. Misery loves company, right? πŸ˜‰

    Oh yes, I've this in many places, but this one takes the bullshitting your way in a job to a new level. The way they do it, it's probably an art form!

    -------------------------------Posting Data Etiquette - Jeff Moden [/url]Smart way to ask a question
    There are naive questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand (the world). There is no such thing as a dumb question. ― Carl Sagan
    I would never join a club that would allow me as a member - Groucho Marx

  • This got me by surprise. I'm not searching for jobs, but it got my attention because it was totally unexpected (but possibly logical).

    https://www.linkedin.com/jobs2/view/99695736

    Luis C.
    General Disclaimer:
    Are you seriously taking the advice and code from someone from the internet without testing it? Do you at least understand it? Or can it easily kill your server?

    How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help: Option 1 / Option 2
  • Luis Cazares (2/3/2016)


    This got me by surprise. I'm not searching for jobs, but it got my attention because it was totally unexpected (but possibly logical).

    https://www.linkedin.com/jobs2/view/99695736

    Stuart's BS guru would be a perfect fit for this BS job πŸ˜‰

    β€œWrite 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

  • ChrisM@Work (2/4/2016)


    Luis Cazares (2/3/2016)


    This got me by surprise. I'm not searching for jobs, but it got my attention because it was totally unexpected (but possibly logical).

    https://www.linkedin.com/jobs2/view/99695736

    Stuart's BS guru would be a perfect fit for this BS job πŸ˜‰

    Well that's a first for me - having TLOGS in the desirable skill section. Sounds great!

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