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[Focus]

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Improving Analysis Services Query Performance
Analysis Services is a valuable business intelligence (BI) tool, but when queries become complex, Analysis Services can bog down. Get your queries running efficiently by using these techniques for proper cube partitioning.
 — Herts Chen


UDM: The Best of Both Worlds
The next release of Analysis Services, coming in SQL Server Yukon, will combine the best aspects of traditional OLAP-based analysis and relational reporting into one dimensional model--the Unified Dimensional Model (UDM).
 — Paul Sanders

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[Features]

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Generating New SQL Server Logins
When you create a SQL Server login that has the same permissions as an existing login, the process of researching the old login's permissions and reassigning them can be tedious. Here's a way to automate permissions analysis-- and save your sanity.
 — Greg A. Larsen

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[SQL Server Savvy]

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Evaluation Edition is Closer to Enterprise Edition
Customers can end up with inaccurate benchmarks by conducting tests on SQL Server Evaluation Edition when they plan to deploy Standard Edition.
 — Brian Moran


Reducing the Page File Size
SQL Server performance won't suffer if the page file is too large and not being fully used, but having a large page file wastes disk space.
 — Brian Moran


Stopping Profiler Traces
Learning how the procedures associated with running an SQL trace work is tricky because they aren't documented well. Here's an example of how you can stop a SQL Server Profiler trace and delete the definition from your server.
 — Brian Moran


Subtleties of Data-Type Precedence
Failing to understand the rules of data-type precedence leads to subtle T-SQL errors and incorrect result sets that are difficult to troubleshoot.
 — Brian Moran

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[Editorial]

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An Offer You Can’t Refuse
Reporting Services fills the one big hole that still exists in SQL Server: the inability to generate reports for the database. Best of all, it’s free for all existing SQL Server 2000 license holders.
 — Michael Otey

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[Reader to Reader]

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Solving Enterprise Problems with NetMon
In an enterprise that uses heterogeneous data systems, providing high-quality customer service is a challenge. Innovator Award winner Douglas McDowell shares a solution that lets a company track and solve problems quickly.
 — Readers , et al.

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[Inside SQL Server]

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Crossing the Line: Ownership Chains
A broken link in a cross-database ownership chain can put your data at risk. Understanding SQL Server 2000’s security model can keep your data safer now and prepare you to take advantage of security enhancements in Yukon.
 — Kalen Delaney

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[Mastering Analysis]

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The Art of Cube Design
Because forecasting depends on the needs of your business, creating a forecasting cube often requires some artistic finesse. Here are some techniques you can use to solve some common cube-design problems.
 — Russ Whitney , et al.

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[T-SQL Black Belt]

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T-SQL Back Doors
Here are some keys that open hidden back doors to special T-SQL objects.
 — Itzik Ben-Gan

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[Letters]

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Letters, February 2004
Microsoft's Lubor Kollar--responding to Itzik Ben-Gan's January 2004 column, "Take Control of Joins"--explains how to control joins in the FROM clause, noting that parentheses are optional but helpful.
 — Various Authors

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[New Products]

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New Products, February 2004
Check out the latest SQL Server-related new and improved products.
 — Dawn Cyr

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[SELECT TOP(X)]

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Patterns and Practices
To get practical knowledge and advice about implementing Microsoft technologies in your organization, check out Microsoft’s Patterns and Practices Library. Here are five database-centric guidebooks that you will find there.
 — Michael Otey