Ahhh... don't your results and conclusion contradict themselves?

Results:
"The File System task is the worst option and the slowest one with 130 seconds"

Conclusion:
"As you can...

This inconsistency in type conversions, IMO is ridiculous. If you can convert to one numeric type with an empty string, you should be able to convert to other numeric types...

Hi Jayanth,

Unfortunately on 2008 🙁 so can't use Column Store indexes, damn. These big tables are often updated too, so column store wouldn't work (read only when put on a...

Oh, one last thing I will do:

+ Add a rebuild/reorganise maintenance task which will detect and rebuild (occasionally) or reorganise indexes as needed. Current fragmentation on some of these indexes...

Hi Gail, thanks, normally I would agree! This is something I am working on in "downtime" between being handed more important work. I won't go further than I need, but...

Thanks Grant. I am up to the investigation stage really, have working tables structured the way I want (in test) now and are checking them out.

The clustering on a...

Not related to SQL Server but related to Microsofts awesome site, try downloading their Malicious software removal tool and you will get to here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/malicious-software-removal-tool-details.aspx

Completely awesome. The most important...

I also need it.

The link on this page: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/get-sql-server/try-it.aspx

takes you here: http://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/pd/SQL2012EvalCTA/enus/default.aspx

Yet the files for both 64 and 32 bit won't download. The iso files get...

True, I guess the evaluation will still work for 180 days, hopefully by that time they would have sorted this out. I can download SQL Server 2008 Developer edition, I...

Yep, unfortunately I am in China at the moment for the next year or so, no chance of them shipping it here. Thats why I really need to download it...

Ugh, this posted twice sorry!

Wow, I just read about Jen's problems as a woman in IT - no surprise that there aren't more woman! Awesome that you are still battling on Jen!

I have met...

Hay,

To do this use dynamic SQL with a built in stored proc... to get the example you posted going:

DECLARE @sql nvarchar(500)

DECLARE @test-2 varchar(20)

SELECT @test-2...

Or you can use this that was posted on the site as an article a little while ago:

Select

'Table Name ' = B.name,

'Column name' = A.name,

'Column No'   = colid,

'Type'        = type_name (xusertype),

'Length'     ...

Thanks guys, have implemented Dr Larsson's solution, but I am still none the wiser as to why my original doesn't work! Must be a bug I say!