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[Features]

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Kick a User Out of a Database in Just 2 Steps
By gathering information from sysprocesses and running KickUserOut.sql, you can terminate processes that are impeding a server's performance.
 — Omri Bahat

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[Editorial]

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Get Connected with LINQ
Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) is the long-awaited wave of the future, and its benefits definitely outweigh its drawbacks.
 — Michael Otey

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[Reader to Reader]

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Display Dates in the Format You Need
If you often need to display the current date in different formats, you know that it can take a lot of code and effort. The FormatDate function changes that. By providing just two parameters, you can display any date in the format you need.
 — Readers

Keep Track of Your Backups
The procedure cspBackupListing can list your databases’ most current backups, back up databases with previous backups older than 24 hours, or list all the backups for a database.
 — Readers

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[Inside SQL Server]

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Combining SQL and TEMPLATE Plan Guides
By using both TEMPLATE plan guides, which enable autoparameterization, and SQL plan guides, which let you specify many query-processing hints, you can optimize query performance.
 — Kalen Delaney

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[Solutions by Design]

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Data Warehousing: Measuring the Facts
With dimensional modeling, you can build a user-friendly data structure that makes data access intuitive. Start by learning the components of the dimensional model and why they're designed as they are.
 — Michelle A. Poolet

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[T-SQL Black Belt]

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Debunking the Myths of Temporary Objects, Part 2
Last month's discussion was pretty theoretical. Now, we dig deeper by offering concrete examples to clarify the topic of temporary objects.
 — Itzik Ben-Gan

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[Letters]

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Letters to the Editor

 — Readers , et al.

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[New Products]

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New Products
Check out new and improved SQL Server–related products.
 — Blake Eno

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[SELECT TOP(X)]

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New Features in SQL Server 2008
Here's a preview of SQL Server 2008 features that just might add a smile to your face: enhanced Microsoft Office integration, the ability to hot-add CPUs, and more goodies DBAs are sure to welcome.
 — Michael Otey

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[Tool Time with Kevin Kline]

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SQL Server Automation Scripts
Microsoft makes available a variety of scripts that its own Database Operations team uses for automating maintenance jobs—and they're free.
 — Kevin Kline

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[Review]

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ApexSQL Log
Need some help with SQL Server database recovery and log auditing? Our review of ApexSQL Log will help you decide whether this app fits your needs.
 — John Green

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[Market Watch]

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Database Auditing and Compliance Products
An emerging selection of software- and appliance-based products augment SQL Server 2005’s basic auditing capabilities, to help you keep data secure and in compliance with government regulations.
 — Jeff James

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[Cover Story]

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SQL Server Migration Assistant
Do you want to move to SQL Server from Oracle, but aren't sure how difficult the data conversion and migration will be? Find out how SSMA for Oracle can help you more easily move to SQL Server.
 — Andrew Sisson

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[PTO for the Rest of Us]

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Getting to Know Virtual File Stats
This built-in SQL Server 2005 DMV lets you see exactly what type of physical I/O your SQL Server system is experiencing when you're reading from or writing to the files on disk. Learn how to get the most out of it.
 — Andrew Kelly

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[Eye on BI]

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What's the Best Way to Carve Up a SAN?
Your SAN engineer might not know the finer points of BI database storage. To stave off trouble, you need to be involved in the SAN configuration process.
 — Douglas McDowell