You'd think I'd have learned...

  • Forgetting to use SET when assigning a variable. Why can't it be optional like it was in BASICA? 😉

  • Richard Warr (11/1/2010)


    Forgetting to use SET when assigning a variable. Why can't it be optional like it was in BASICA? 😉

    heh... what about forgetting to take out the variable assignment when converting a SELECT to a stored proc? Somehow I always miss that.

    "Hm, why does that always return the same value?...D'OH!"

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    How best to post your question[/url]
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    "stewsterl 80804 (10/16/2009)I guess when you stop and try to understand the solution provided you not only learn, but save yourself some headaches when you need to make any slight changes."

  • 1) Getting inverted conditions in where clauses ("=" for "<>", "is" for "is not", that sort of thing); for some reason I only do this on deletes and updates and merges, never on selects.

    2) Forgetting to alias table valued expressions if the column names I'm using are unique.

    3) Numerous SCTEs (like SLEECT and teh like).

    4) Forgetting to switch into my playpen db before playing.

    5) Spending effort saving a couple of milliseconds on an ad hoc query that will only run once.

    6) When attempting to avoid doing 5 above, ending up with a query that takes too long because I need the result by midday, but don't get it until 12:15.

    7) Testing something to destruction, even if it doesn't need to be totally reliable.

    8) Allowing C++ programmers to write SQL (or indeed any code at all).

    I'd stop here at a power of two, but can't resist swapping base and exponent to include

    9) A big mistake I made only once (and since then I have to live with it) - uninstalling SQLServer 2000 client tools becuase I though the modern stuff would surely be as good, so that now I'm stuck with intellinonsense instead of being able to use QA.

    Tom

  • Tom,

    I was able to reinstall SQL 2000 client tools after my 2k5 upgrade. I had to use a different install path, but the install worked... And so did the tools.

    Maybe try that to fix #9?

    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.

  • 1) Plugging a USB stick into the back of my laptop only to lift the front of my laptop to put it away and bend \ break the stick.

    2) Forgetting to grant permissions to new SP's as appropriate when sent to me by the Dev team. They always have to send a second email when they get the Execute Denied error.

  • Brandie Tarvin (9/6/2011)


    Tom,

    I was able to reinstall SQL 2000 client tools after my 2k5 upgrade. I had to use a different install path, but the install worked... And so did the tools.

    Maybe try that to fix #9?

    Ah ... if only I'd hung on to an SQL 2000 install disk; but I didn't , and I decided too that my MSDN get everything subscription had to go when it last expired. I keep on thinking I should look and see what MS is currently offering.

    Tom

  • Alan Vogan (10/15/2010)


    one lesson I have learned...Don't Change ANYTHING on Friday! Just answer easy questions on SQL Server Central... 😛

    Awesome! Nor change stuff at 4:30pm on a weekday

  • True story: a few weeks ago, I was administering a final exam (I teach part-time). One of my students asked a question. It went something like this:

    • Me: This came up in an assignment. You can consult that. (All my exams are open-book, open note.)
    • Student: Oh, I deleted them. After I turned them in, I didn't need them anymore. I always do that.
    • Me: <*** facepalm ***>

    +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    Check out my blog at https://pianorayk.wordpress.com/

  • Ray K (9/14/2011)


    True story: a few weeks ago, I was administering a final exam (I teach part-time). One of my students asked a question. It went something like this:

    • Me: This came up in an assignment. You can consult that. (All my exams are open-book, open note.)
    • Student: Oh, I deleted them. After I turned them in, I didn't need them anymore. I always do that.
    • Me: <*** facepalm ***>

    Student, just lend me yours :-D.

  • Ray K (9/14/2011)


    True story: a few weeks ago, I was administering a final exam (I teach part-time). One of my students asked a question. It went something like this:

    • Me: This came up in an assignment. You can consult that. (All my exams are open-book, open note.)
    • Student: Oh, I deleted them. After I turned them in, I didn't need them anymore. I always do that.
    • Me: <*** facepalm ***>

    Because apparently going to school does not actually require retained learning. 😉

    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.

  • Ninja's_RGR'us (9/14/2011)


    Ray K (9/14/2011)


    True story: a few weeks ago, I was administering a final exam (I teach part-time). One of my students asked a question. It went something like this:

    • Me: This came up in an assignment. You can consult that. (All my exams are open-book, open note.)
    • Student: Oh, I deleted them. After I turned them in, I didn't need them anymore. I always do that.
    • Me: <*** facepalm ***>

    Student, just lend me yours :-D.

    I can't wait until she's on the job years from now, and her boss asks her for stuff from a previous project. "Oh, those files are gone. I deleted them. We didn't need them anymore!!!"

    +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    Check out my blog at https://pianorayk.wordpress.com/

  • Ray K (9/14/2011)


    Ninja's_RGR'us (9/14/2011)


    Ray K (9/14/2011)


    True story: a few weeks ago, I was administering a final exam (I teach part-time). One of my students asked a question. It went something like this:

    • Me: This came up in an assignment. You can consult that. (All my exams are open-book, open note.)
    • Student: Oh, I deleted them. After I turned them in, I didn't need them anymore. I always do that.
    • Me: <*** facepalm ***>

    Student, just lend me yours :-D.

    I can't wait until she's on the job years from now, and her boss asks her for stuff from a previous project. "Oh, those files are gone. I deleted them. We didn't need them anymore!!!"

    I think I've worked with him already.

    And he's posted plenty of time over here this month alone!

  • Speaking of school, last night I got so excited about such a silly thing. My SO & I were talking about Decartes and I asked, "He was a rationalist, wasn't he?" The SO didn't know. So we looked it up. And would you believe I remembered something I learned in high school western history & college philosophy that I never thought would be relevant to my life?

    Hee.

    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 (9/14/2011)


    Speaking of school, last night I got so excited about such a silly thing. My SO & I were talking about Decartes and I asked, "He was a rationalist, wasn't he?" The SO didn't know. So we looked it up. And would you believe I remembered something I learned in high school western history & college philosophy that I never thought would be relevant to my life?

    Hee.

    How the heck is it relevant now?

    If the only need for learning in school is so that you can have something to talk about with your kids when they learn it themselves at school, we have a hell of a problem with the curriculum.

    P.S. had to look up SO => Spouse, significant other.

  • Ninja's_RGR'us (9/14/2011)


    Brandie Tarvin (9/14/2011)


    Speaking of school, last night I got so excited about such a silly thing. My SO & I were talking about Decartes and I asked, "He was a rationalist, wasn't he?" The SO didn't know. So we looked it up. And would you believe I remembered something I learned in high school western history & college philosophy that I never thought would be relevant to my life?

    Hee.

    How the heck is it relevant now?

    I'm writing another story, steampunk, that involves a descendant of his trying to destroy Babbage's difference engine.

    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.

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