Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server offers tight integration with the Back Office series of server products. Check out this collection of SQL Server links about migrating to SQL Server, performance tuning, development and more!
SQL Server Constraints
SQL Server constraints allow you to enforce rules in your database. These rules may affect business logic, database integrity and/or table structures. Each one plays an important role in your database architecture.
SQL Server constraints allow you to enforce rules in your database. These rules may affect business logic, database integrity and/or table structures. Each one plays an important role in your database architecture.
NOT NULL Constraints in Microsoft SQL Server
NOT NULL constraints in Microsoft SQL Server allow you to specify that a column may not contain NULL values. When you create a new NOT NULL constraint on a database column, SQL Server checks the column’s current contents for any NULL values. If the column currently contains NULL values, the constraint creation fails. Otherwise, SQL Server adds the NOT NULL constraint and any future INSERT or UPDATE commands that would cause the existence of a NULL value fail.
NOT NULL constraints in Microsoft SQL Server allow you to specify that a column may not contain NULL values. When you create a new NOT NULL constraint on a database column, SQL Server checks the column’s current contents for any NULL values. If the column currently contains NULL values, the constraint creation fails. Otherwise, SQL Server adds the NOT NULL constraint and any future INSERT or UPDATE commands that would cause the existence of a NULL value fail.
UNIQUE Constraints in Microsoft SQL Server
UNIQUE constraints allow SQL Server administrators to specify that a column may not contain duplicate values. When you create a new UNIQUE constraint, SQL Server checks the column in question to determine whether it contains any duplicate values. If the table contains preexisting duplicates, the constraint creation command fails. Similarly, once you have a UNIQUE constraint on a column, attempts to add or modify data that would cause duplicates to exist also fail.
UNIQUE constraints allow SQL Server administrators to specify that a column may not contain duplicate values. When you create a new UNIQUE constraint, SQL Server checks the column in question to determine whether it contains any duplicate values. If the table contains preexisting duplicates, the constraint creation command fails. Similarly, once you have a UNIQUE constraint on a column, attempts to add or modify data that would cause duplicates to exist also fail.
DEFAULT Constraints in Microsoft SQL Server
DEFAULT constraints allow you to specify a value that the database will use to populate fields that are left blank in the input source.
DEFAULT constraints allow you to specify a value that the database will use to populate fields that are left blank in the input source.
CHECK Constraints in Microsoft SQL Server 2008
CHECK constraints allow you to limit the types of data that users may insert in a database. They go beyond data types and allow you to define the specific values that may be included in a column.
CHECK constraints allow you to limit the types of data that users may insert in a database. They go beyond data types and allow you to define the specific values that may be included in a column.
SQLCMD Step-by-Step
Microsoft SQL Server provides users with a variety of rich graphical user interfaces to retrieve and manipulate data and configure SQL Server databases. However, sometimes it’s just easier to work from the old-fashioned command line. Whether you’re looking for a quick-and-dirty way to execute a SQL query or wish to include SQL statements in a Windows script file, SQLCMD allows you to meet your goal.
Microsoft SQL Server provides users with a variety of rich graphical user interfaces to retrieve and manipulate data and configure SQL Server databases. However, sometimes it’s just easier to work from the old-fashioned command line. Whether you’re looking for a quick-and-dirty way to execute a SQL query or wish to include SQL statements in a Windows script file, SQLCMD allows you to meet your goal.
Database Tuning Advisor
What is Database Tuning Advisor? Find out in the About Databases glossary.
What is Database Tuning Advisor? Find out in the About Databases glossary.
Database Tuning Advisor
What is Database Tuning Advisor? Find out in the About Databases glossary.
What is Database Tuning Advisor? Find out in the About Databases glossary.
Database Tuning Advisor
What is Database Tuning Advisor? Find out in the About Databases glossary.
What is Database Tuning Advisor? Find out in the About Databases glossary.
Free and Low Cost SQL Server Options
SQL Server is an enterprise-class relational database, but that doesn't mean it has to blow your budget. In this article, we take a look at two low cost options that let you get up and running with SQL Server 2008 for free or under $50.
SQL Server is an enterprise-class relational database, but that doesn't mean it has to blow your budget. In this article, we take a look at two low cost options that let you get up and running with SQL Server 2008 for free or under $50.
Microsoft SQL Server 2008: Choosing the Correct Edition
SQL Server 2008 is the latest release in Microsoft’s enterprise relational database platform series. In this substantial upgrade, they've packed the new database engine full of new features, but fortunately it doesn’t pack any additional punch in your wallet: SQL Server 2008 is available at the same price points used by SQL Server 2005.
SQL Server 2008 is the latest release in Microsoft’s enterprise relational database platform series. In this substantial upgrade, they've packed the new database engine full of new features, but fortunately it doesn’t pack any additional punch in your wallet: SQL Server 2008 is available at the same price points used by SQL Server 2005.
Choosing a SQL Server Authentication Mode
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 offers administrators two choices of performing user authentication: Windows authentication mode and mixed authentication mode. Making the proper choice affects both the security and maintenance of your organizations databases.
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 offers administrators two choices of performing user authentication: Windows authentication mode and mixed authentication mode. Making the proper choice affects both the security and maintenance of your organizations databases.
Using TRY�CATCH to Handle SQL Server Errors
The TRY�CATCH statement in Transact-SQL allows you to detect and handle error conditions gracefully within your database applications. This statement is the cornerstone of SQL Server error handling and is an extremely important part of developing robust database applications.
The TRY�CATCH statement in Transact-SQL allows you to detect and handle error conditions gracefully within your database applications. This statement is the cornerstone of SQL Server error handling and is an extremely important part of developing robust database applications.
Create a Trace with SQL Server Profiler
Traces allow you to track the specific actions performed against a SQL Server databases. They provide valuable information for troubleshooting database issues and tuning database engine performance. In this tutorial, we walk through the process of creating a SQL Server Trace with SQL Server Profiler, step-by-step.
Traces allow you to track the specific actions performed against a SQL Server databases. They provide valuable information for troubleshooting database issues and tuning database engine performance. In this tutorial, we walk through the process of creating a SQL Server Trace with SQL Server Profiler, step-by-step.
Use SQL Server Upgrade Advisor
Microsoft provides the SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Advisor to help you detect upgrade issues before they occur. This tool examines your SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005 databases and checks for any potential conflicts.
Microsoft provides the SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Advisor to help you detect upgrade issues before they occur. This tool examines your SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005 databases and checks for any potential conflicts.
Transaction Log Shrinking and Truncation in SQL Server
The transaction log plays a critical role in a SQL Server database: it maintains an ongoing record of database activity crucial for the restoration of recent data in the event of a disaster. However, this benefit comes at a cost: the transaction log can consume a substantial amount of space in an active database. SQL Server provides two actions designed to counterbalance these large space requirements: transaction log truncation and log file shrinking.
The transaction log plays a critical role in a SQL Server database: it maintains an ongoing record of database activity crucial for the restoration of recent data in the event of a disaster. However, this benefit comes at a cost: the transaction log can consume a substantial amount of space in an active database. SQL Server provides two actions designed to counterbalance these large space requirements: transaction log truncation and log file shrinking.
SQL Server Recovery Models
SQL Server provides three different recovery models that allow you to specify the way SQL Server manages log files and prepares your enterprise for a disaster. Each of these models represents a different approach to balancing the tradeoff between conserving disk space and providing for granular disaster recovery options.
SQL Server provides three different recovery models that allow you to specify the way SQL Server manages log files and prepares your enterprise for a disaster. Each of these models represents a different approach to balancing the tradeoff between conserving disk space and providing for granular disaster recovery options.
Create an Alert Using SQL Server Agent
SQL Server allows you to automatically notify database administrators when unusual circumstances occur. This powerful alerting mechanism enables 24-hour monitoring of your database performance without staffing a 24-hour operations center.
SQL Server allows you to automatically notify database administrators when unusual circumstances occur. This powerful alerting mechanism enables 24-hour monitoring of your database performance without staffing a 24-hour operations center.
SQL Server Backup Types and Scopes
One of the major advantages that enterprise-class databases offer over their desktop counterparts is a robust backup and recovery feature set. Microsoft SQL Server provides database administrators with the ability to customize a database backup and recovery plan to the business and technical requirements of an organization.
One of the major advantages that enterprise-class databases offer over their desktop counterparts is a robust backup and recovery feature set. Microsoft SQL Server provides database administrators with the ability to customize a database backup and recovery plan to the business and technical requirements of an organization.
Partitioning a SQL Server Database Table
Looking to optimize the performance of your SQL Server database? If your database contains very large tables, you may benefit from partitioning those tables onto separate filegroups. This technology, introduced in SQL Server 2005, allows you to spread data onto different physical disks, leveraging the concurrent performance of those disks to optimize query performance.
Looking to optimize the performance of your SQL Server database? If your database contains very large tables, you may benefit from partitioning those tables onto separate filegroups. This technology, introduced in SQL Server 2005, allows you to spread data onto different physical disks, leveraging the concurrent performance of those disks to optimize query performance.
SQL Server Transaction Isolation Models
Normally, it's best to allow SQL Server to enforce isolation between transactions in its default manner; after all, isolation is one of the basic tenets of the ACID model. However, sometimes business requirements force database administrators to stray from the default behavior and adopt a less rigid approach to transaction isolation. To assist in such cases, SQL Server offers five different transaction isolation models.
Normally, it's best to allow SQL Server to enforce isolation between transactions in its default manner; after all, isolation is one of the basic tenets of the ACID model. However, sometimes business requirements force database administrators to stray from the default behavior and adopt a less rigid approach to transaction isolation. To assist in such cases, SQL Server offers five different transaction isolation models.
Stored Procedures vs. User Defined Functions in Microsoft SQL Server
SQL Server user-defined functions and stored procedures offer similar functionality. Both allow you to create bundles of SQL statements that are stored on the server for future use. This offers you a tremendous efficiency benefit, as you can save programming time by...
SQL Server user-defined functions and stored procedures offer similar functionality. Both allow you to create bundles of SQL statements that are stored on the server for future use. This offers you a tremendous efficiency benefit, as you can save programming time by...
Other SQL Server Data Types
Other SQL Server data types allow for the storage of unique identifiers, cursors, tables and XML
Other SQL Server data types allow for the storage of unique identifiers, cursors, tables and XML
Binary Data Types in SQL Server
Binary data types allow you to store any type of binary data, including entire files of up to 2GB. They include binary, varbinary, image and bit.
Binary data types allow you to store any type of binary data, including entire files of up to 2GB. They include binary, varbinary, image and bit.
Character String Data Types in SQL Server
Character string data types are used to store text values in Microsoft SQL Server databases.
Character string data types are used to store text values in Microsoft SQL Server databases.
Date and Time Data Types in SQL Server
The date and time SQL Server data types are used to store calendar information. They include the datetime, smalldatetime and timestamp variables.
The date and time SQL Server data types are used to store calendar information. They include the datetime, smalldatetime and timestamp variables.
Approximate Numeric Data Types in SQL Server
The approximate numeric data types are not as commonly used as other SQL Server data types used to store numeric information. The exact numeric data types provide more precision and are more commonly used.
The approximate numeric data types are not as commonly used as other SQL Server data types used to store numeric information. The exact numeric data types provide more precision and are more commonly used.
Exact Numeric Data Types in SQL Server
The exact numeric data types are the most common SQL Server data types used to store numeric information. They include integers (int), big integers (bigint), tiny integers (tinyint), small integers (smallint), decimal and numeric values.
The exact numeric data types are the most common SQL Server data types used to store numeric information. They include integers (int), big integers (bigint), tiny integers (tinyint), small integers (smallint), decimal and numeric values.
Microsoft SQL Server Data Types
Selecting appropriate data types is one of the most important considerations when designing a SQL Server database. Choices you make in the database design phase may have a significant impact on the efficiency, performance and storage requirements of your database down the road.
Selecting appropriate data types is one of the most important considerations when designing a SQL Server database. Choices you make in the database design phase may have a significant impact on the efficiency, performance and storage requirements of your database down the road.
Creating Tables in Microsoft SQL Server
SQL Server databases rely upon tables to store data. In this tutorial, we'll explore the process of designing and implementing a database table in Microsoft SQL Server.
SQL Server databases rely upon tables to store data. In this tutorial, we'll explore the process of designing and implementing a database table in Microsoft SQL Server.
Transact-SQL
What is Transact-SQL? Find out in the About Databases glossary!
What is Transact-SQL? Find out in the About Databases glossary!
SQL Server Stored Procedures
Microsoft SQL Server provides the stored procedure mechanism to simplify the database development process by grouping Transact-SQL statements into manageable blocks.
Microsoft SQL Server provides the stored procedure mechanism to simplify the database development process by grouping Transact-SQL statements into manageable blocks.
Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server 2005
After a long gap in the release of SQL Server databases, Microsoft recently released SQL Server 2005. In this substantial upgrade, they've packed the new database engine full of features.
After a long gap in the release of SQL Server databases, Microsoft recently released SQL Server 2005. In this substantial upgrade, they've packed the new database engine full of features.
SQL Server Index Tuning
Looking to squeeze that last bit of performance out of your SQL Server database? The Index Tuning Wizard can help!
Looking to squeeze that last bit of performance out of your SQL Server database? The Index Tuning Wizard can help!
Microsoft English Query
English Query makes it possible to pose natural language questions to any OLE DB data source
English Query makes it possible to pose natural language questions to any OLE DB data source
SQL Server Disaster Recovery
There are numerous threats to your data -- disk corruption, natural disaster, human error and server failure, among others. Is your disaster recovery plan sufficient to ensure your organization's interests are protected?
There are numerous threats to your data -- disk corruption, natural disaster, human error and server failure, among others. Is your disaster recovery plan sufficient to ensure your organization's interests are protected?
Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server
SQL Server offers full-featured relational database functionality in a user-oriented package. Learn about the various components of SQL Server in this article.
SQL Server offers full-featured relational database functionality in a user-oriented package. Learn about the various components of SQL Server in this article.
Microsoft English Query
Would you like to give users of your database the ability to pose queries in plain English? EQ makes it possible!
Would you like to give users of your database the ability to pose queries in plain English? EQ makes it possible!
Stored Procedures in SQL Server
Stored procedures offer great performance, security and abstraction benefits to SQL Server developers.
Stored procedures offer great performance, security and abstraction benefits to SQL Server developers.
SQL Server Disaster Recovery
There are numerous threats to your data -- disk corruption, natural disaster, human error and server failure, among others. Is your disaster recovery plan sufficient to ensure your organization's interests are protected?
There are numerous threats to your data -- disk corruption, natural disaster, human error and server failure, among others. Is your disaster recovery plan sufficient to ensure your organization's interests are protected?
SQL Server Index Tuning
Looking to squeeze that last bit of performance out of your SQL Server database? The Index Tuning Wizard can help!
Looking to squeeze that last bit of performance out of your SQL Server database? The Index Tuning Wizard can help!
SQL Server Replication
Microsoft SQL Server provides a robust replication facility to distribute and update data in a decentralized fashion.
Microsoft SQL Server provides a robust replication facility to distribute and update data in a decentralized fashion.
Choosing Between Oracle and SQL Server
Having a hard time deciding upon a database management system for your environment? This article from InfoWorld Magazine compares and contrasts Oracle and SQL Server.
Having a hard time deciding upon a database management system for your environment? This article from InfoWorld Magazine compares and contrasts Oracle and SQL Server.
Data Distribution with SQL Server
Robert Pfeiff and Ted Daley of SQL Server Magazine provide a "behind the scenes" look at SQL Server's replication capabilities. This easy-to-read description is great for the novice.
Robert Pfeiff and Ted Daley of SQL Server Magazine provide a "behind the scenes" look at SQL Server's replication capabilities. This easy-to-read description is great for the novice.
Microsoft SQL Server
Visit the official Microsoft product site to get the latest news, patches and information on SQL Server 7.0 and the new SQL Server 2000 products!
Visit the official Microsoft product site to get the latest news, patches and information on SQL Server 7.0 and the new SQL Server 2000 products!
Microsoft SQL Server Security White Paper
Microsoft's TechNet provides a series of white papers detailing the security features of SQL Server with recommendations for database administrators.
Microsoft's TechNet provides a series of white papers detailing the security features of SQL Server with recommendations for database administrators.
Performance Tuning SQL Server
Microsoft's guide to performance tuning SQL Server installations. This article provides quick tips with comprehensive explanations.
Microsoft's guide to performance tuning SQL Server installations. This article provides quick tips with comprehensive explanations.
Replication and SQL Server
If you're looking for a distributed database solution, this white paper from Microsoft describes the replication capabilities present in SQL Server.
If you're looking for a distributed database solution, this white paper from Microsoft describes the replication capabilities present in SQL Server.
SQL Server Backup and Restore White Paper
This Microsoft white paper provides answers to frequently asked questions on SQL Server's backup and restore functionality.
This Microsoft white paper provides answers to frequently asked questions on SQL Server's backup and restore functionality.
SQL Server Clustering Step-by-Step
Microsoft's product support engineers explain how to implement clustering services with SQL Server. This comprehensive white paper provides screen snapshots and detailed instructions.
Microsoft's product support engineers explain how to implement clustering services with SQL Server. This comprehensive white paper provides screen snapshots and detailed instructions.
SQL Server FAQ
This FAQ provides hundreds of common questions and answers about Microsoft's popular SQL Server product.
This FAQ provides hundreds of common questions and answers about Microsoft's popular SQL Server product.
SQL Server Security Checklist
This security checklist is a "must read" for all SQL Server database administrators. Chip Andrews provides a detailed review of potential vulnerabilities and countermeasures.
This security checklist is a "must read" for all SQL Server database administrators. Chip Andrews provides a detailed review of potential vulnerabilities and countermeasures.
Validating Replicated Data
Jeffery Rogers of SQL Server Magazine discusses common problems with SQL Server replication and describes the proper implementation of validation techniques to ensure proper data synchronization.
Jeffery Rogers of SQL Server Magazine discusses common problems with SQL Server replication and describes the proper implementation of validation techniques to ensure proper data synchronization.
