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

Adding an identity value with SELECT INTO

When copying data into a new table using SELECT INTO it can be useful to add an identity column at the same time, especially where the source data does not already have a primary key. This tip describes how to do that.

Featured Script

Checking for unused indexes

SQL Server provides a lot of information in the Data Management Views (DMVs). This script shows how to identify indexes which are never actually used, by using DMVs such as dm_db_index_usage_stats and dm_db_index_operational_stats.

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