Azure-Sql-Db

As well as the variables that you declare, SQL Server has a number of built-in system variables and some built-in system functions. The system variables are the ones with @@ at the start of their name. Here is an example that’s often used: SELECT @@VERSION; It is documented here. On my SQL Server 2022 system, the value returned is this: Now while that is a reasonable example of a system variable that has been used for a long time, note that it’s a bit messy as there is a lot of information in a single returned value.

2025-01-25

Variables in T-SQL work very much the way they do in other languages. A variable really is nothing more than a name given to a memory location. In T-SQL, variable names must start with an @ sign. An example would be: @CustomerName As well as defining a name, variables have other properties. The first is that we have a data type. It defines the types of things, like strings or numbers and so on, that can we store in that location.

2025-01-24

One of the most popular courses that we used to run in person was a Query Performance Tuning and Advanced T-SQL course. I recently finished converting the Advanced T-SQL course to an online format, but a key (no pun intended) part of the Query Performance Tuning course was the content on reading SQL Server execution plans. For so long, I’ve wanted to get the execution plan content available online, as reading them is such an important skill.

2024-10-30

One of our popular courses is Advanced T-SQL for Developers and DBAs. If you’re still writing T-SQL like it’s SQL Server 2000, or even SQL Server 2016, it’s time to look at what’s changed over the years. We’ve just pushed out substantial updates to that course. The new content areas pushed out in this update are: New Module 1 Content: (Using Common Data Types Effectively) UNISTR - embedding Unicode within strings ANSI string concatenation with || Extensions to TRIM, LTRIM, and RTRIM, particularly for removing characters apart from spaces New options for CURRENT_DATE Truncating dates with DATETRUNC Grouping periods of dates with DATE_BUCKET New Module 2 Content: (Using Special Data Types) Creating tables of values with GENERATE_SERIES Optimizing optional parameters by using IS [NOT] DISTINCT FROM Working with bits (shifting left, right, counting, and setting and getting bits) New Module 7 Content: (Ranking, Pivoting, and Grouping Data) Using APPROXIMATE_PERCENTAGE (discrete and continuous) to enhance performance and reduce memory usage Using GREATEST and LEAST to reduce query complexity New Module 8 Content: (Using TOP, APPLY, and Window Functions) Using named windows to simplify queries New NULL treatment options for window clauses New Module 10 Content: (Working with JSON Data) New options for storing data by using the json data type Enhanced options for OPENJSON Using ISJSON to check JSON formats, including checking for VALUE, ARRAY, OBJECT, and SCALAR types JSON_PATH_EXISTS helps when working with nullable data Using JSON constructors to create objects and arrays Using the new JSON aggregates We’re really pleased with this update.

2024-10-09

Just a heads-up that v24 of SDU Tools went out to SDU Insiders last week. If you haven’t used SDU Tools, they are just a large library of functions implemented in T-SQL. You can use them as a full library or use them as examples of code in work you are trying to do. Backwards Compatibility We’ve also tried to keep all the code working for all versions of SQL Server that we see clients using.

2024-09-10

Joe Sack is an old friend. (I’ve known him a long time. He’s not actually old). He’s always fascinating to chat to and so I was so pleased to have him on another SQL Down Under podcast today. Last time was in 2017. Joe is a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft and is working with the integration of data and AI with SQL Copilots. The aim is to use AI and natural language processing to make database management simpler, whether you’ve been doing it for years or just getting started.

2024-04-27

Another bunch of fun today recording a SQL Down Under show and it’s now published! This time I had the pleasure of discussing SQL Server and other data-related tools with Erin Stellato. Erin is a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft and works directly with the tools that I wanted to discuss.I’ve known Erin quite a while and she’s always interesting to hear from. I hope you enjoy it. You’ll find this show (and previous shows) here: SQL Down Under Podcast /

2024-04-09

I really enjoyed recording today’s SQL Down Under show and it’s now published! This time I had a great conversation with fellow Microsoft Data Platform MVP Angela Henry. Angela is a principal consultant at Fortified, and on LinkedIn, describes herself as a data mover and shaper. Angela has a particular fondness for the Microsoft BI Stack and Databricks. You’ll find Angela online as @sqlswimmer. I hope you enjoy it. You’ll find this show (and previous shows) here: SQL Down Under Podcast /

2024-03-30

I often look at the results of a query in SSMS and want to save them off somewhere, and what I really want is a table. To do that, at present, I need to: Right-click and use Save Results As to go to a CSV Use the flat file import wizard (or something) to import the CSV Now obviously, in some cases, if it was a SELECT query, I could add an INTO clause and just run the query again, but there are many many cases where I want to save the outcome of another type of query.

2024-03-28

This is the final part of a series on using Change Data Capture with Azure SQL Database, and looks at accessing the data from change data capture from another database. Scenario I often use Azure SQL Database as a data warehouse. It’s a perfectly fine database for that. But the challenge with Azure SQL Database is always about how to access data in other databases. Many people don’t seem to realize that you can use External Tables (and External Data Sources) to read data in one Azure SQL Database, in another Azure SQL Database.

2024-01-22