Author: Kevin

In our last post, we started talking about transactions and how they can help your databases have data integrity. Let’s continue that today with our friends TRY and CATCH. TRY is just telling SQL Server that we want to try out something. CATCH tells SQL Server what to do if it completely messes up. BEGIN…… Continue reading How about we TRY and CATCH some Transactions?

The last time we were together, I discussed DCL and TCL. That post ended with a quick paragraph on transactions and how they can help with data integrity. Today, I want to go more in-depth on this very important topic. Transactions always – and I do mean always – start with the phrase BEGIN TRAN.…… Continue reading Setting up a Friendly TRANSACTION

Over the last few posts, we’ve discussed DDL and DML. This week I want to actually discuss the other 2 types of languages with SQL Server – DCL and TCL. DCL is the Data Control language. These are the commands that give security permission to a person – or group – to get things done.…… Continue reading Accessing and Transacting Languages in SQL Server

In my last post, I discussed some of the DML commands in SQL Server. This week I want to discuss another category of commands – Data Definition Language, or DDL. DDL is used to define or redefine the structure of the database. The commands that are used for DDL are as follows: CREATEDROP ALTERRENAMETRUNCATE So…… Continue reading How to Define objects

For a while now, I’ve been talking about specific functions used within SQL Server. For example, I’ve talked about DATALENGTH, REPLICATE, and STUFF, along with many others. And all that is great and should be known if you work with SQL Server on a regular basis. But today, I want to talk about the different…… Continue reading Unique Categories of Commands within SQL

Last time, we were able to go over a way to group data that is probably not familiar to many. This time, I want to go over an extra piece to that puzzle that should add even more functionality to your repertoire when it comes to data functionality. First, we have the basic query that…… Continue reading Grouping Items in Such A Way

A lot of the time you’re going to be asked to group items. Sometimes, you have to look at the exact same data in multiple ways. It can be just flat ugly to look at but it does what you need to. Well, today we can talk about a way to make it a bit…… Continue reading Getting Data to Group Better

Sometimes you’ll find a fun little function that can actually help you out a lot with your coding. Today’s function is just that for me. When I first heard about QUOTENAME, I was like “This is rather useless. It just puts brackets around whatever. I can do it just as easily hard-coding the strings.” Truly,…… Continue reading Quoth the Raven… Nevermore

Time for some real talk, my friends. When I first started working with SQL Server, I learned how to program in quite possibly the worst way possible – from “experts” who had just been let go from the company I worked at. For a good month, I walked through every bit of SQL code I…… Continue reading STUFF that can make your life easier

Previously, we talked about the REPLACE and TRANSLATE functions and how similar, but not quite the same they are. Today, I want to talk about yet another function that does something similar but not quite the same. Today, I want to discuss the STUFF function and how it can add or even replace parts of…… Continue reading Ain’t Nothing Like Saying STUFF this & Moving On