The COMPRESS() TSQL Function in SQL Server 2016+
One cool little feature in SQL Server 2016 is COMPRESS(). It’s a TSQL function available in all editions that shrinks down data using the GZIP algorithm (documentation).
Desktop Wallpapers and Webcasts on Isolation Levels and Memory
I’ve been having lots of fun drawing and doing webcasts this summer. I’ve got four SQL Server themed desktop wallpapers to share, and I’ve got lots more coming– along with a new chunk of free webcasts.
Downloadable SQL Server Desktop Wallpapers
I’ve set things up so you can quickly download desktop wallpapers featuring cartoons and SQL Server concepts. Get ‘em here Grab wallpapers at https://github.com/LitKnd/littlekendracomments/tree/main/SQLWorkbooks-Wallpaper-and-Posters.
Did that Query Eliminate Partitions? (videos)
Table partitioning makes execution plans a bit more confusing. I have a free online course which walks you through decoding execution plans, including whether or not partition elimination occurred.
IF Statement Branching and Parameter Sniffing
It can be tricky to remember that SQL Server doesn’t short circuit on IF statements in stored procedures. Even when you know this, sometimes it’s hard to recognize the impacts.
Index Rebuild, Reorganize, and Statistics in Maintenance Plans in SQL Server 2016
Working with maintenance plans is supposed to be easy, but I find it to be quite difficult.
New Free Webcasts on Interviewing and Indexing
Sharpen your performance tuning and indexing skills this summer, for free, one week at a time!
Using sp_WhoIsActive with Temp Tables to Limit Data Collected
The free sp_WhoIsActive procedure by Adam Machanic can be very useful for monitoring SQL Server: I’m a big fan.
But I’ve learned the hard way that it’s easy to collect too much information with sp_WhoIsActive, particularly if you set up jobs where you have the procedure log data to a table for later review. Collecting the text of SQL Server queries, their execution plans, and more, can take up a lot of room, and I’ve managed to fill up a server drive or two with a little over-eager collection. Whoops!
Join me for Why Did My Clever Index Change Backfire? at the 24 Hours of PASS
You’ve got a performance problem and you know just the cool index trick that will fix it! Until it goes utterly wrong. Join me for this free session in the 24 hours of PASS to see multiple quick demos of index changes that seem like a great idea… until they either don’t work, or make things worse. How to sign up My session is on Wed, July 19, 9 am Pacific / 12 pm Eastern / 4pm UTC.
How to Enable the Debug Channel in Extended Events for the Query Thread Profile XEvent in SQL Sever 2014+
Microsoft recently gave us a more lightweight way to trace data related to execution plan performance. As of SQL Server 2014 SP2, you can trace the query_thread_profile Extended Event.