All posts by: Joel Ewald
Why have a date dimension?
Many of our products utilize a date table (dimension in warehousing speak). They make quite a few things easier when you are doing reporting over denormalized data. For example you no longer have to write case statements in every report...
Avoiding the 2 X 4 to the face
A couple months ago I read a post by Seth Godin entitled “Duck!“. In it he talks about avoiding the 2X4 to the face. “You’re running it at it full speed, and in a moment, you’re going to slam into...
A slow death from Implicit Type Casting
A common code smell that attracts my attention right away is when I see an explicit conversion being done, typically done using CAST or CONVERT. However, implicit type casting can be worse and is typically not readily apparent. During code reviews I found...
The Expert
In one of the discussions this week, I mentioned to the group a video I saw a few years ago that is quite humorous and has some element that will speak to almost anyone who has ever worked on any...
More SQL Learning – Performance, Tuning, and Troubleshooting
I recently came across a new blog by Ramesh Meyyappan on “Seek or Scan – Cost Based Optimizer in SQL Server“. In the youtube video (17 minutes) he covers the topic with some good examples and explanations, assuming you have...
Loading Data into SQL Server From Excel
Oft times trying to use the SQL SSIS Import wizard to load data into SQL server from excel you run into data type conversion errors and have to go through many machinations to alter the offending column data types and...
Changing the batch separator in SSMS
I can see the confused looks. “Joel what are you talking about?” We’re talking about Batches By default, in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), your query is submitted and executed in a batch. The batch separates the work you want...
Code Quality – A Modernist Visualization
Recently Danny sent me a copy of Clean Code – A Handbook of Agile Software Craftmanship in pdf form (Or you can get your very own physical copy ). It is a lengthy read and I have not finished...
SQL Server Crib Sheets
SQL Server Central has a free ebook that compiles high level crib sheets that cover a few different areas. These give a good overview of high level concepts and tools that may interest you. It covers a range of areas...
Development meets Soft Skills @ Kal X 2016
I attended the Kalamazoo X conference again this year. This is a small one day technology conference held in Kalamazoo, MI each year that covers soft skills and business acumen. For the price and quality of speakers I highly recommend people...