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

See what queries are currently running

Sometimes it is useful to see what is currently running on a SQL server. On SQL Server 2005 and later this is fairly easy to achieve using the Dynamic Management View (DMV) dm_exec_requests.

Featured Script

Checking For Unused Database Files

It's useful to periodically check if there are any old database files that can be deleted from a SQL Server. Usually database files will be deleted along with the database, however this is not always the case. This script will identify unused files.

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