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[Focus]

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Better Together
SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 are designed to work together. Learn how you can start developing applications now that will take advantage of the teamwork of these new products.
 — William Sheldon

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[Features]

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Analysis Services 2005 Brings You Automated Time Intelligence
Even if you're not an expert, Analysis Services 2005 can help you provide automatic, intelligent solutions to common business problems. For example, the time intelligence enhancement lets you easily create time-based calculations.
 — Mosha Pasumansky , et al.


Proactive SQL Server Management
To minimize the time you spend handling database emergencies, use this system of performance baselining, benchmarking, and continuous monitoring.
 — Kevin Kline


Transitive Closure
Sometimes, you want more than the destination; you need to see the road itself. CTEs can show you the way.
 — Itzik Ben-Gan , et al.

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[SQL Server Savvy]

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Another Source of Missing SQL Server Performance Monitor Counters
MOM uses the same sql counters that Performance Monitor uses to gather information about your servers. Be sure to stop the MOM service on any server you need to stop SQL Server on.
 — Brian Moran


Believe It When Microsoft Tells You Not to Use Undocumented Functions and Behaviors
SQL Server has always had nifty undocumented functions that are tempting to use. Starting with SP4, we'll have to change our way of thinking and stop using undocumented and unsupported features in our production code.
 — Brian Moran


Beware Compile-Time Degradation When You Use Wide Views
You might expect a greater cost when selecting the entire view, but you might be surprised to see the actual difference.
 — Brian Moran


Double-Click on a Column to Show a Grid's Full Data Length
You can double-click on the end of the column marker and the column will auto-expand to show the full data.
 — Brian Moran


Returning Informational Messages Quickly
You can force informational messages to come back immediately by using a RAISERROR statement and choosing the optional WITH NOWAIT keywords.
 — Brian Moran


Setting Autogrow Properties
Find out whether it's better to use a fixed size or a percentage growth when setting the autogrow properties for a SQL Server data file.
 — Brian Moran

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[Editorial]

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When Less Is More
Do you want your code done right, or do you want it done right now? It pays to be skeptical of extreme expectations.
 — Michael Otey

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[Inside SQL Server]

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Tracking Recompiles
Reusing stored procedures can be a good idea, but first you need to learn how to keep track of compilation.
 — Kalen Delaney

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[T-SQL Black Belt]

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Performing Base Conversions
Flex your T-SQL muscles by learning to write a program that converts a value in a given base to a decimal value.
 — Itzik Ben-Gan

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[New Products]

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New Products, June 2005
Check out new and improved SQL Server-related products.
 — Dawn Cyr

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[SELECT TOP(X)]

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Running SQL Server in a VM
Five tips to maximize SQL Server performance in a VM.
 — Michael Otey

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[Preparing for SQL Server 2005]

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Extending XML in SQL Server 2005
XML has become the standard format for transporting data. SQL Server 2005 offers native XML support--along with a new XML data type--that offers flexible data storage and gives you new ways to think about application and database design.
 — Matt Nunn

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[Ask Microsoft]

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Discovering Your SQL Server User Account
Microsoft's Gert Drapers gives a stored procedure that tells you whether SQL Server is using the domain account or the local account as its Windows user account.
 — Microsoft's SQL Server Development Team