1) varchars only save you space if the average DATA length is several chars < length of char column.

2) Create new table with varchars.  Insert data to this table while...

Typical Answer:  It depends. 

Seriously though, if your query patterns normally restrict the data such that only smaller pieces of the table will be...

Most everything you need to know and more is here:  http://www.sommarskog.se/dyn-search.html. 

Sorry, I wasn't very clear in my post!  I leave the noted amount of ram available for stuff OTHER than sql server.  So for a 12GB box, I set sql...

It is usually right to set an upper limit to the ram sql server can use.  There is no magic number, however, but I use the following rough formula:  for...

. . . correction - OF the supervisor!  LOL

I highly recommend an upgrade to the supervisor! 

I would do two queries.  The first is a simple SELECT COUNT(*) using all of the rest of the query (except reduce derived tables to the bare minimum fields required...

SET SHOWPLAN_TEXT ON will work. 

But if the data is different, why would you expect similar execution times??

1) that's not a very efficient query:  distinct, 3 joins (one with <=), correlated subquery and a function call in the where clause.  Oh, and an ORDER BY AND XML...

1) Remote joins are not a good idea.

2) Is the remote table indexed appropriately (both for the join as well as for insert/update activity from local apps against it)?  Are...

Eliminating a join will certainly be more efficient.  As to what is better, I would say that if you control the dictionary table, use the known key values as you...

NO!!!! JUST THE OPPOSITE!  If you DO clean out the %win%\INSTALLER directory you will be HOSED!  And a LOT more than just sql server service packs will barf too.  Virtually...

<SOAPBOX ON>

I have spent about 25 hours so far on the phone with MS tech support because I can't install sp2 on a box.  The problem is that every damn...

1) Anything that loops to kill spids should have an 'escape clause' to avoid getting stuck in an 'infinite' loop.  Some spids can take a LONG time to rollback.  Not...