Michael Coles: Sergeant SQL : SQL, t-sql, SQL 2008

Bit-Twiddling in SQL

Mike C — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 03:40:00 GMT

Someone posted a question to the SQL Server forum the other day asking how to count runs of zero bits in an integer using SQL. Basically the poster wanted to know how to efficiently determine the longest contiguous string of zero-bits (known as a run...(read more)

Calculating Holidays in SQL

Mike C — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:51:00 GMT

Ask about nearly any kind of SQL-based date calculation in the newsgroups , and you'll likely get responses that include use of an auxiliary calendar table . It's a really good idea, and something I highly recommend to anyone who has to do date-based...(read more)

Parent-Child Build Scripts with SQLCMD

Mike C — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:33:00 GMT

On the SQL Server public programming newsgroup someone recently posted a question about an SSMS error ( "Cannot parse script. 'System.OutOfMemoryException' thrown." ) I hadn’t encountered this error myself, but the workaround is to break up very large...(read more)

Please Vote: Windowing Enhancements in SQL Server

Mike C — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:45:00 GMT

Back in January 2007, SQL guru Itzik Ben-Gan posted a series of MS Connect enhancement requests concerning windowing function enhancements. Those who have used the ROW_NUMBER() , RANK() , DENSE_RANK() , and NTILE() functions on SQL 2005 and 2008, you...(read more)

Mission Accomplished: NJSQL Saturday Event

Mike C — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:03:00 GMT

Thanks to all those who made the NJSQL Saturday event held in Iselin, NJ today a success! Those lucky enough to attend were given a sneak preview of one of the best young presenters out there--MVP Jacob Sebastian--who will also be speaking at PASS. I...(read more)