Recent Blogs and Articles

Welcome to SQL Matters

SQL Matters is a resource for SQL Server Developers, Architects, DBAs and others interested in SQL Server and related technologies . Our site contains a wide range of articles, tips, blogs, quiz questions and other information about the SQL Server range of products. This includes Integration Services (SSIS), Reporting Services (SSRS), Analysis Services (SSAS) and some other products that we feel might be of interest to the SQL Server community such as PowerPivot and Report Builder.

Here are some examples of technical information that you might be interested in :

Featured Tip

SQL Server TCP Port vs TCP Dynamic Ports

The default instance of SQL Server will listen on port 1433 (unless you’ve changed it to something else). However, by default, named instances will use a dynamic port, and SQL Server Browser will determine which port has been allocated and direct traffic accordingly. This works well if you’re running multiple instances on your local machine, but is not so good in corporate and other environments where you need a fixed port number so you can open specific firewall ports. Fortunately it’s fairly easy to change to a fixed port (or to change the port number) once the instance has been installed.

Featured Script

Clearing entries for failed jobs in the SQL agent history

SQL Server agent keeps a log of events in a table, this is used for the ‘View History’ which displays events for a job in the Log File Viewer. This script will delete selected rows from the history table, such as failed job runs.

Quick Quiz : DATALENGTH results

What is the result of the following SQL query ?
DECLARE @MyStr NVARCHAR (100)
SET @MyStr = 'ABC'
SELECT DATALENGTH(@MyStr)
Choose one : a) 3    b) 6    c) 50    d) 100