One of the fundamental aspects of working with SQL Server is understanding how to get the number of rows affected by a query. Whether you’re working with SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements, knowing the row count can provide critical insights into your database operations. In this blog post, we’ll explore different methods to retrieve the row count in SQL Server and discuss scenarios where each method is most effective. 1. Using COUNT(*) with SELECT Statements When you need to …

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Exploring Example SQL Databases in SQL Server SQL Server is a robust relational database management system that offers a variety of features for data management, analysis, and reporting. One of the great resources for learning and testing SQL Server capabilities is the set of sample databases provided by Microsoft. These databases are rich with sample data and scenarios, making them ideal for education, training, and demonstration purposes. In this post, we’ll dive into five popular sample databases: AdventureWorks, Contoso, Northwind, …

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July is here and that means it’s time for us to pivot our collective gaze to the pulse of our digital lifeblood – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I am excited to declare this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual opportunity to appreciate the often-unseen guardians of our valuable data, and to dive deeper into the heartbeat of our systems, replete with intricate data structures and complex relations. It’s time …

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Over the years developing Database Health Monitor I have added a number of keyboard shortcuts to make life easier when working in the application. Some of these are listed here to share since they are not all completely obvious. Backspace Key – Jump to the last report viewed The Backspace key can be used to jump to the previous report that you were viewing. Not just that, but hit it multiple times and you can browse back through the history …

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Parameter Sniffing and Conditional Logic in SQL Server Stored Procedures: A Performance Pitfall Parameter sniffing is a well-known feature in SQL Server that can significantly impact query performance. While it often leads to optimized query execution, it can sometimes cause performance issues, especially when combined with conditional logic in stored procedures. In this article, we’ll explore how parameter sniffing interacts with conditional logic and how this interaction can lead to suboptimal performance. Understanding Parameter Sniffing Parameter sniffing occurs when SQL …

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Grab a blanket and get comfortable. It’s story time with Steve Stedman and Derrick Bovenkamp! In this 10 min video they will share with you database corruption stories. From these stories hopefully you’ll learn what not to do. Things to watch out for to avoid server corruption. Transcription: Steve Stedman 0:04Let’s roll onto the corruption stories. So the first one we’re going to talk about here was one of the first really big corruption repairs that I did after Derek …

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Boost SQL Server Performance with Stedman Solutions Monitoring Tools In the world of database management, maintaining optimal SQL Server performance is paramount. For businesses relying on SQL Server, ensuring high performance, availability, and reliability can be challenging. This is where Stedman Solutions comes in, offering a suite of powerful monitoring tools: Database Health Monitor, SQL Performance Monitor, and Blocking Query Monitor. These tools are designed to provide comprehensive insights and actionable data to keep your SQL Server running smoothly. Database …

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Video on Transactional Replication Watch it directly on YouTube. https://youtu.be/69H3KAvit7I Transactional replication is a robust and essential feature for organizations that need to maintain accurate and consistent data across various locations. While it comes with its challenges, the benefits of having a near real-time replication system can significantly outweigh these, particularly for critical business operations. To harness the full potential of transactional replication, proper setup and ongoing management are crucial. I encourage you to watch our comprehensive video on this …

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Discover Database Health Monitor: Your Ultimate SQL Server Monitoring Tool What is Database Health Monitor – a short video by Steve Stedman showing an overview of what Database Monitor is, including history, features, and product details. Managing SQL Server environments can be challenging, but with the right tools, it becomes much easier and more efficient. That’s where Database Health Monitor from Stedman Solutions comes into play. As an essential tool for SQL Server administrators, Database Health Monitor offers robust monitoring, …

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Ensuring the optimal performance of your SQL Server databases is crucial for your business operations. Database monitoring plays a vital role in maintaining this performance, identifying issues before they escalate into significant problems. At Stedman Solutions, we specialize in SQL Server management, offering comprehensive managed services that elevate your database monitoring to the next level. Here’s how our services can help you achieve seamless and efficient database monitoring. Why Database Monitoring Matters Effective database monitoring is essential for several reasons: …

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