Assuring optimal performance of database applications starts with coding properly formulated SQL. Poorly written SQL and application code is the cause of most performance problems. As much as 75% of ...

Arthur Fuller explores the value of identity columns and the usefulness of their arbitrary values and discusses ways to use SQL Server 2000's IDENTITY_INSERT setting. Despite your numerous ...

I know in Oracle you can use DBA_TAB_COLUMNS (or ALL_TAB_COLUMNS). My SQL Server knowledge is very rusty, but can't you use the INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS view?

You don't have to give up using dynamic SQL just because you're using Entity Framework. The Entity Framework SqlQuery method will give you back the flexibility of dynamic SQL and still let you work ...

As I discussed in an earlier column, SQL Server keeps a plan cached for each query it sees (assuming the query requires planning in the first place, of course). That's great for speeding up processing ...

If you've worked in any data-centric role, you've probably experienced the effects of the proverbial "mandate from on high." Someone in the C-suite decides it's time to hop on the latest shift in the ...

Oracle this week announced the X8 version of its Exadata Database Machine, featuring breakthrough hardware and software enhancements and unique machine learning capabilities. Used by 77% of Fortune ...