Ward Pond's SQL Server blog
Ruminating on issues pertinent to the design and development of sound databases and processes under Microsoft SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2005, and SQL Server 2000 (while reserving the right to vent about anything else that's on my mind)
As Spring Approaches, a SQL Blogger’s Thoughts Turn to Daylight and Baseball
As we progress towards the Ides of March, one of my best friends-who-I’ve-never-met, Jimmy May,...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 03/09/2009
Database Programming: NULL and (NOT) IN Don’t Mix Well
Jens Suessmeyer is a Microsoft Consultant in Germany who frequently shares his useful techniques and...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 03/07/2009
DWWTWT?: March 2-6
Here’s another seasonal query for you: select datediff(dd,'10/20/2008','3/3/2009') ----------- 134...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 03/07/2009
Microsoft Hosting Silverlight 2 Developer Contest with $5000 Prize
This week I’m hoping to get through my backlog of postable material. It makes sense to start with...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 03/02/2009
DWWTWT?: February 23-27
February closes with a full week of telecommuting: Commuting Options Selected since 12 June 2006...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/27/2009
Registration Open for Spring 2009 IT Pro Tiki Hut Tour
I’ve got to say, the title of this post isn’t a sentence I ever saw myself typing.. but that’s...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/26/2009
SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 CTP Released
I’m a day late with this, I’m afraid, but it’s still worthwhile.. As reported yesterday on the...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/24/2009
Microsoft Learning Asks a Loaded Question: Are You Certifiable?
This is a really cool idea.. If you’ve ever considered taking a certification exam but aren’t sure...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/20/2009
DWWTWT?: February 16-20
As predicted last week, another full week of telecommuting has that category rocketing into third...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/20/2009
Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles Moving to TechNet and MSDN
Word today from Christopher Kilborn over at Port 80 that, as part of a larger initiative, Microsoft...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/17/2009
Cumulative Update Package 2 for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 Released
Only a day late this time.. Cumulative Update Package 2 for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 has been...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/17/2009
Free Microsoft Press Virtualization E-Book Available for Download
Understanding Microsoft Virtualization Solutions, by Mitch Tulloch, the Microsoft Virtualization...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/16/2009
DWWTWT?: February 9-13
Our weather pendulum continues, as this week’s low temperatures are above last week’s highs, and...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/13/2009
Last Day to Start Downloading the Windows 7 Beta
As previously mentioned, if you want to work with the Windows 7 Beta, you need to start your...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/10/2009
DWWTWT?: February 2-6
Another week of telecommuting from a central Florida which is back to frosty mode: Commuting Options...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/06/2009
Second Shot with a Side of Career Assist: Just What the Doctor Ordered
In light of the current state of the economy (not to mention recent news in my own back yard (I can...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/05/2009
Database Programming: OBJECT_NAME Takes Two Parameters
This post is a cousin of sorts to last December’s post regarding the OBJECT_ID function. I learned...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/03/2009
Windows 7 Beta Downloads Close in a Week..
.. and you’ve only got nine days left to finish your download. Here’s a lazy cut-and-paste from my...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 02/03/2009
DWWTWT?: January 26-30
Another week of telecommuting from a central Florida much less frosty than it was last week:...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/30/2009
SINGLE_BLOB Size Limit: An Affirmation for Bert
Bert left a comment on this post pointing out a limitation of “the other OPENROWSET trick” (the one...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/27/2009
Windows 7 Beta Downloads Extended Through February 10
There’s a new post on The Windows Blog indicating that general availability of the Windows 7 Beta...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/23/2009
DWWTWT?: January 19-23
Another week of telecommuting from a frosty central Florida: Commuting Options Selected since 12...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/23/2009
A Moment of Silence, Please
Per’s already been busy on his new blog.. Up until a few months ago, we had someone on our team who...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/22/2009
The Microsoft Certified Master Programs Have Joined the Blogosphere
If you’re looking for the best high-end training in Microsoft technologies – OCS, Exchange,...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/22/2009
Cumulative Update Package 3 for SQL Server 2008 Released
I was two weeks late with my announcement of CU #2; this announcement is coming to you on the day of...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/19/2009
DWWTWT?: January 12-16
For the first time in almost a month (you’ve got to love the holidaze), I spent a full five days at...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/16/2009
Get Well, Steve Jobs
Sure, he’s a competitor, but some things trump business. Sad news about Steve Jobs’ health today, as...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/15/2009
Issue 18 of The Architecture Journal Now Available
I found out recently that Microsoft publishes a quarterly called The Architecture Journal. As...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/14/2009
DWWTWT?: January 5-9
I spent Monday and Tuesday of the first full week of 2009 extended my holiday break after finding...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/09/2009
Yet Another Holiday Query: Adam Wants to Play
If this keeps up, I might need to define a tag for this stuff.. Our old friend Adam Machanic,...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/08/2009
Another Seasonal Query, Slightly Late..
On the heels of Christmas Eve’s seasonal query from Dirk Gubbels comes this gem from Madhivanan...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/07/2009
Windows 7 Beta Available for Download This Friday, January 9
Exciting news over on The Windows Blog: the first and only release of the Windows 7 Beta will be...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/07/2009
DWWTWT?: January 1-2
The New Year begins as the old year ended, with the rest of the week remains non-competitive for the...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 01/02/2009
DWWTWT?: December 29-31
In the second of my annual indulgences, I’m “treating” you to a summary of my commuting life this...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/31/2008
Feedback is a Gift; Thanks, Kalen!
The law of unintended consequences is an amazing thing. When I posted Dirk Gubbels’ holiday greeting...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/29/2008
DWWTWT?: December 22-26
After spending six hours in Orlando airport with Zach on Monday waiting for his two hour flight to...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/26/2008
A Seasonal Query
UPDATED 29 Dec 2008: Back to the tried-and-true source code formatting method, per Kalen’s comment...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/24/2008
SQL Server 2005 SP3 CU1 Is Now Available
Hot on the heels of the initial SQL Server 2005 SP3 release, Cumulative Update 1 for SQL Server 2005...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/20/2008
DWWTWT?: December 15-19
The working year ends with a full week of telecommuting from balmy central Florida: Commuting...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/19/2008
It's Here! SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 Now Available for Download
As discussed here, SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 is now available for download here. The following...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/16/2008
Linchi Shea Makes an Interesting Point About Hints
I had a couple of extra minutes today and found this post on Linchi Shea’s blog; I wanted to commend...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/12/2008
Database Programming: OBJECT_ID Takes Three-Part Identifiers
This is another one of those tricks that’s been available since the earth was cooling, but I just...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/12/2008
DWWTWT?: December 8-12
Another week of telecommuting (bringing the total for that mode into triple digits), including...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/12/2008
Cumulative Update Package 2 for SQL Server 2008 Released
Can you tell I’m moving towards the top of my in-box? My earlier release announcement was...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/05/2008
Throw Some SPARKs: Microsoft’s First Windows Embedded Hobbyist Competition
I think contests are really cool, so I tend to blog about them here even when they’re not overtly...
Author: Ward Pond Date: 12/05/2008