I recently worked on a project I which I redesigned sales data warehouse as a STAR schema, using daily file partitions, with a automatic sliding window, and applying data compression at the page level. I ended up reducing a 5 terabyte database to less than 750 GB. I will be writing several articles on the lessons that I learned during the process. Today, I want to talk about how to generate a hash key by using two built in SQL Server functions. A hash function is any algorithm that maps…
Tag: John F. Miner III
Surrogate Keys
I recently worked on a project I which I redesigned sales data warehouse as a STAR schema, using daily file partitions, with a automatic sliding window, and applying data compression at the page level. I ended up reducing a 5 terabyte database to less than 750 GB. I will be writing several articles on the lessons that I learned during the process. Today, I want to talk about how surrogate keys can be used to tie the dimension tables to the fact tables. I need to start the talk off…
Database Files & Objects – Part 4
Today, I will be continuing my talk on database objects that can be viewed through the system catalog views or system stored procedures. A Microsoft SQL Server database is composed of many different objects. We will be investigating how to retrieve information on these objects in the [MATH] sample database. Please see my first article that creates this database. I will be focusing on functions, stored procedures, triggers and views in this article. Let’s use the USE statement to select the sample database.
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<span style="color: #008000; font-size: small;">-- Which database to use. USE [MATH] go </span> |
VIEWS – MSDN QUOTE: “A view…
Database Files & Objects – Part 3
Today, I will be continuing my talk on database objects that can be viewed through the system catalog views or system stored procedures. A Microsoft SQL Server database is composed of many different objects. We will be reviewing how to retrieve information on these objects in the [MATH] sample database. Please see my first article that creates this database. I will be focusing on tables, columns, indexes, and constraints in this article. Let’s use the USE statement to select the sample database.
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<span style="color: #008000; font-size: small;">-- Which database to use. USE [MATH] go </span> |
The most basic component of a database…
Database Files & Objects – Part 2
Today, I will be continuing my talk on database files and database objects that can be viewed through the system catalog views or system stored procedures. A Microsoft SQL Server database is composed of at least two operating system files: a primary data file and a transaction log file. A secondary data files can be used to implement table partitioning or storage of data on different disks by filegroup. If we want to get a simple list of all the databases on the server, one can execute the sp_helpdb system…
Database Files & Objects – Part 1
I am currently reading Kalen Delany and others book on SQL Server 2008 System internals. If you have not read this book from cover to cover, you should. It has a wealth of knowledge about database engine details. To demonstrate key ideas from the book, I am going to expand on the [MATH] database that contains PRIME numbers. The trial division algorithm inside this database uses a brute force method for calculating prime numbers. This article will focus on files and objects that can be viewed through the system views,…
Basic Training – Data Types – Part 6
I am continuing my series of talks on fundamental topics like data types. I am proud to be a United States Army Reservist (USAR) Veteran. Just like boot camp I went to so long ago, I am going nick name the series BASIC TRAINING. The most basic unit of any database is a TABLE which consists of COLUMNS. A vital decision during the initial database design is to choose the data types that will capture the information you want in the least amount of space. Today, I am exploring binary…
Providence – SQL Saturday #156
I am totally pumped up about having the opportunity to host a SQL Saturday #156 in Providence RI. I have been involved with the local PASS group, SNESSUG for almost four years and the current chapter president for one. I have definitely grown from the experince! I will be centering the keynote speach on the value of professional associations, a recent topic of Buck Woody at Simple Talk. With a product as big as SQL Server (TSQL, SSIS, SSAS, & SSRS), it is great to chat with others doing work…
Basic Training – Data Types – Part 5
I am continuing my series of talks on fundamental topics like data types. I am proud to be a United States Army Reservist (USAR) Veteran. Just like boot camp I went to so long ago, I am going nick name the series BASIC TRAINING. The most basic unit of any database is a TABLE which consists of COLUMNS. A vital decision during the initial database design is to choose the data types that will capture the information you want in the least amount of space. Today, I am exploring date…
Basic Training – Data Types – Part 4
I am continuing my series of talks on fundamental topics like data types. I am proud to be a United States Army Reservist (USAR) Veteran. Just like boot camp I went to so long ago, I am going nick name the series BASIC TRAINING. The most basic unit of any database is a TABLE which consists of COLUMNS. A vital decision during the initial database design is to choose the data types that will capture the information you want in the least amount of space. Today, I am exploring unicode…