1.  Collation is about what character set can be saved in any column/database....and implicit with that is the default SORT ORDER when sorting character data....ie does "a" come before "b",...

Dave, you haven't said how the analysts log into the cubes.  I don't have direct MS DW experience but am familiar with others. 

Some of the following may be of...

Simple answer...yes...get rid of the cursors.

SELECT view_item_current_balance.Vicb_ItemID, RawMat.rmt_itemcode ,

             RawMat.rmt_matcode , RawMat.rmt_description ,

              round(view_item_current_balance.vicb_balance ,3) AS Balance

  FROM view_item_current_balance INNER JOIN RawMat WITH (NOLOCK) ON view_item_current_balance.Vicb_ItemID = RawMat.rmt_id

 WHERE (view_item_current_balance.vicb_fin_year = @p_Year...

The quote "They said it is not their directive to provide solutions, but uncover the gaps and make sure that get adequatly (sp) filled."

I think this point is the key.....mgmt...

1. Deny all access to DB's except via SP's.

2. Include in all SP's functionality that log's their own actions....to a text file or to a table 'outside the scope of...

1. I would go with

Appointment

Appointment_User

User

with the middle table 'having a 'purpose' code added.  This would allow you to define other interactions between 'appointment' + 'user' without having to define/code another...

If you want to advertise a product, you could do it properly by supporting the SiteOwners officially.

What you need to do is setup a "locked-down" environment so that all regular DB/Application activity is controlled via SP's and SQL-Application roles, and that all DDL activity is controlled via...

"...I have experimented quite a bit with this over the last few days and feel uncomfortable with the explanations offered so far. Something is being left out."

There's only been 1...

Investigate partitioning....you should be looking to spread different days data into different partitions, and then use a view to "unify" the data into 1.  This should allow the purging to...

(Good + proven) on the job experience is better than pure qualifications.  Having the qualifications will show inititive and also an exposure to some defined concepts....but not necessarily show that...

Red-Gate SQL Compare is good....and very reasonably priced for what you're getting.  The Data Compare is o.k....but not as good as SQL Compare especially at identifying/scripting changes....or at least the...

"However, in our case, we KNOW that the number of records matching 0 should be very few, so this is an excellent index - very selective."

BUT the problem for you...

ahaa....the value of punctuation/emoticons!!!..no offence taken (now)

suk still could learn from applying the hints.

why did I bother?...I did say i was a fool

Eoin....

I wasn't being rude......I was being sarcastic.  Rudeness is asking for help and then disparaging the "freely" given starter effort with a blunt "Nope, thats not very useful."

The points I...