QUERY and TABLE HINTS

Create Table

Solving Complex T-SQL Problems, Step-By-Step

What should you do if your first, most intuitive solution to a problem ends up scanning the data more than is necessary, resulting in poor performance? Have you missed a new SQL Server feature that can remove inefficiency from your technique? Alternatively, do you need a little help, and some lateral thinking, to open the path to a different approach? Sometimes, the answer is "both".

Handling NULL

Comparison of Queries Written in T-SQL and SQL Server MDX

Beginning to learn and comprehend SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) MDX queries can be difficult after one has spent years writing queries in T-SQL. When trying to write SQL Server MDX queries, it's worth considering "How would I write this query in T-SQL?"

Sum and Count

The Elusive Conditional WHERE Clause

What's this, a conditional WHERE clause that doesn't use dynamic SQL?

T-SQL Coding Style

When you write T-SQL code what kind of coding style do you use? Do you have a consistent way to comment and format your code? Does your organization provide standards for how you must code your T-SQL? Join Greg Larsen as he discusses some of the coding styles you should consider when writing your T-SQL scripts and stored procedures.

The Cascading (CROSS) APPLY

An old trick nowadays but one which is still underused here on SSC is the cascading CROSS APPLY – where output from one CROSS APPLY is used as input for another.

SQL JOINS