SimonS' SQL Server Stuff

Should you ask leading or non-leading questions in an interview

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I am reviewing my interview questions to try and make them more exhaustive.

I intially started off interviewing with the view that the interviewee should be able to stand up on there own. I'm not going to give them anything. If they can't think of the right answer then mustn't know it. I never wanted to give a interviewee the answer as I felt that defeated the objective.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Should you ask leading or non-leading questions in an interview

Hot fixes are always cumulative

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The one thing I learnt when I was at the MVP summit a few weeks ago was that hotfixes are always cumulative, in other words you get all the other hotfixes that have been made prior to your hot fix.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Hot fixes are always cumulative

Free 2GB SQL Server USB Keys

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We are holding the next UK SQL User group meeting in Central London on the 26th April from 6pm - 9pm (later if you fancy a drink)

The eveneing will have a SQL event and BI event running side by side with 8 presenters and loads of giveaways including t-shirts, books and USB keys.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Free 2GB SQL Server USB Keys

Update to the taskpad custom report

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Thank you to those people that informed me that my taskpad report was incorrectly reporting the backups times against the wrong type of backup.

I have now fixed the report and have also included the backup types that are supported by SQL 2005.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Update to the taskpad custom report

SQL Server Trace Event Definitions

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If you are using Event Notifications or capturing events in Profiler you undoubtedly have noticed that MS have used the same columns (xml elements) for storing different data for each event. For example there is an element called "integer data". You may ask what is stored in here cos it ain't obvious from the name of the element.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/SQL Server Trace Event Definitions

SQL Server Samples are now live on Codeplex

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Microsoft are in the process of retiring GotDotNet and replacing it with CodePlex.

CodePlex is a shared source website which allows you to upload projects and give access to other people to view/maintain.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/SQL Server Samples are now live on Codeplex

Online Index White Paper

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Paul Randal recently informed me of a new white paper on online index operations. The whitepaper can be found here Online Index White Paper.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Online Index White Paper

Using SMO from within SQLCLR

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SMO is a great feature of SQL Server 2005. It is a rich API for managing SQL Server and as with its predecssor DMO the SQL Server tools are built on top of it.

As SMO is a .Net managed library many people want to reference SMO in a SQL CLR function or stored procedure. However SMO is one library that cannot be hosted within SQL Server (See Bob's post for more details http://www.sqlskills.com/blogs/bobb/2007/03/13/TwoThingsYouCantDoInSQLCLR.aspx)

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Using SMO from within SQLCLR

Maintenance plan warning for SP2

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Due to a regression bug introduced in SP2 some of the maintenance plan tasks that can operate on multiple databases may not perform as expected.

If a maintenance plan component uses TSQL of this nature

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Maintenance plan warning for SP2

SP2 has changed, make sure you download the latest file

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A regression bug was introduced in SP2 that resulted in a view problems when used in evironments that had other versions of SQL 2005 i.e. RTM and SP1.

The SP2 download has been changed to include this hotfix.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/SP2 has changed, make sure you download the latest file

Online demos using screen capture - Camtasia

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I've just posted the first of a series of webcast/demos/how tos that I will be continuing over the next few months. There are many common tasks that are much easier to show than explain, especially around SSIS and coding in general.

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Online demos using screen capture - Camtasia

SSIS : How do I add rownumber/line number to a data flow

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There are a number of options to achieve a row number /line number in a data flow.

One of the easiest solutions is to use script component.

This video shows you how to,

http://sqlblogcasts.com/files/folders/ssis_tools/entry1591.aspx

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/SSIS : How do I add rownumber/line number to a data flow

Understanding Full Text Searching Compared with LIKE

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One of the most common questions that comes up on the newsgroups is around searching for terms containing punctuation. The questions are normally something like

"I'm trying to use Full Text to search my product catalog, when someone enters a product code the results I get back are often wrong. Why is that?"

... To read the complete version of this post go here, http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/simons/Understanding Full Text Searching Compared with LIKE