SQL Server MVP Deep Dives, Volume 1

This is not an ordinary SQL Server Book. SQL Server MVP Deep Dives brings together the world’s most highly-regarded SQL Server experts to create a masterful collection of tips, techniques, and experience-driven best practices for SQL Server development and administration. These SQL Server MVPs-53 in all-each selected a topic of great interest to them, and in this unique book, they share their knowledge and passion with you.

SQL Server MVP Deep Dives is organized into five parts: Design and Architecture, Development, Administration, Performance Tuning and Optimization, and Business Intelligence. Within each part, you’ll find a collection of brilliantly concise and focused chapters that take on key topics like mobile data strategies, Dynamic Management Views, or query performance. The range of subjects covered is comprehensive, from database design tips to data profiling strategies for BI.

Additionally, the authors of this book have generously donated 100% of their royalties to support War Child International. War Child International is a network of independent organizations, working across the world to help children affected by war. War Child was founded upon a fundamental goal: to advance the cause of peace through investing hope in the lives of children caught up in the horrors of war. War Child works in many different conflict areas around the world, helping hundreds of thousands of children every year. Visit www.warchild.org for more information.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Database design and architecture
Chapter 1. Louis and Paul’s 10 key relational database design ideas
Chapter 2. SQL Server tools for maintaining data integrity
Chapter 3. Finding functional dependencies

Part 2 Database Development
Chapter 4. Set-based iteration, the third alternative
Chapter 5. Gaps and islands
Chapter 6. Error handling in SQL Server and applications
Chapter 7. Pulling apart the FROM clause
Chapter 8. What makes a bulk insert a minimally logged operation?
Chapter 9. Avoiding three common query mistakes
Chapter 10. Introduction to XQuery on SQL Server
Chapter 11. SQL Server XML frequently asked questions
Chapter 12. Using XML to transport relational data
Chapter 13. Full-text searching
Chapter 14. Simil: an algorithm to look for similar strings
Chapter 15. LINQ to SQL and ADO.NET Entity Framework
Chapter 16. Table-valued parameters
Chapter 17. Build your own index
Chapter 18. Getting and staying connected—or not
Chapter 19. Extending your productivity in SSMS and Query Analyzer
Chapter 20. Why every SQL developer needs a tools database
Chapter 21. Deprecation feature
Chapter 22. Placing SQL Server in your pocket
Chapter 23. Mobile data strategies

Part 3 Database Administration
Chapter 24. What does it mean to be a DBA?
Chapter 25. Working with maintenance plans
Chapter 26. PowerShell in SQL Server
Chapter 27. Automating SQL Server Management using SMO
Chapter 28. Practical auditing in SQL Server 2008
Chapter 29. My favorite DMVs, and why
Chapter 30. Reusing space in a table
Chapter 31. Some practical issues in table partitioning
Chapter 32. Partitioning for manageability (and maybe performance)
Chapter 33. Efficient backups without indexes
Chapter 34. Using database mirroring to become a superhero!
Chapter 35. The poor man’s SQL Server log shipping
Chapter 36. Understated changes in SQL Server 2005 replication
Chapter 37. High-performance transactional replication
Chapter 38. Successfully implementing Kerberos delegation
Chapter 39. Running SQL Server on Hyper-V

Part 4 Performance Tuning and Optimization
Chapter 40. When is an unused index not an unused index?
Chapter 41. Speeding up your queries with index covering
Chapter 42. Tracing the deadlock
Chapter 43. How to optimize tempdb performance
Chapter 44. Does the order of columns in an index matter?
Chapter 45. Correlating SQL Profiler with PerfMon
Chapter 46. Using correlation to improve query performance
Chapter 47. How to use Dynamic Management Views
Chapter 48. Query performance and disk I/O counters
Chapter 49. XEVENT: the next event infrastructure

Part 5 Business intelligence
Chapter 50. BI for the relational guy
Chapter 51. Unlocking the secrets of SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services
Chapter 52. Reporting Services tips and tricks
Chapter 53. SQL Server Audit, change tracking, and change data capture
Chapter 54. Introduction to SSAS 2008 data mining
Chapter 55. To aggregate or not to aggregate—is there really a question?
Chapter 56. Incorporating data profiling in the ETL process
Chapter 57. Expressions in SQL Server Integration Services
Chapter 58. SSIS performance tips
Chapter 59. Incremental loads using T-SQL and SSIS