We recently looked at implementing vertical partitioning on a set of data. In an earlier introduction post we also mentioned the benefits which can be seen as a result of the partitioning in both our maintenance and querying of the data. Here we’ll take a look at those benefits with a little more evidence. We’ll be using the data […]
Within SQL Server we can store Boolean data using the BIT data type. This value is a single bit which will store a True or False (or null) value. However if you dive a little deeper with the data type it’s actually a little less clear cut in terms of the storage needed for this data type. […]
We previously looked at an introduction to Vertical Partitioning where we covered what it is and the potential benefits and drawbacks of using it. Here I wanted to build up some data and show how we may vertically partition it to help make it more manageable for us. So that we’ve got some relevant data to use […]
When dealing with large volumes of data in SQL Server we may need to look for strategies to make querying and managing the data easier to handle. A few months back we looked at an approach where we partitioned our data into multiple segments by applying partition functions and schemes to our tables. This helps […]
When writing larger queries which return more fields or join together an increasing number of tables it can be easy for scripts to get unruly. A fundamental skill to help with the readablity of you queries is through the use of Aliases. An alias provides us a was to change how we reference part of […]
In the previous post we looked at how to use the CROSS APPLY and OUTER APPLY operators as alternative to a JOIN in queries with some examples. As we wrapped that up I also mentioned that there can be drawbacks to using APPLY in our queries, particularly when we’re working with large data sets. The issue is due to the way that the right hand […]
When joining data in SQL we have a number of options to us including INNER and OUTER joins, but one of the ones I tend to use less frequently is the APPLY operator, specifically the CROSS APPLY and OUTER APPLY operators. As with other types of joins they operate slightly differently and have considerations which should be taken into account when deciding on the output […]
The UPDATE and DELETE statements allow us to manage the data within our databases and being able to use them effectively is key. There was recently a question from a junior developer asking about how to perform data changes when table joins are required so I thought it a good opportunity to put forward some more thought out details […]
Sometimes when you’re querying a set of data for the first time it can be tricky to understand the results you see. What are the data types? How is the data keyed? Are there any constraints in place? Does the table have foreign keys relating to other tables? So you might then end up scanning […]
Last time out we looked at referencing tables across databases. While we of course have the option of using three-part naming to address the table, we also considered views and synonyms as two alternative options. Both of these can be used to achieve similar results. There are elements which they have in common and others which […]
Andy Brownsword 