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[Focus]

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DTS and the Data Warehouse
Learn the secrets behind DTS's powerful Data Driven Query task, which can help you track information as it slowly changes in your data warehouse.
 — Itzik Ben-Gan

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[Features]

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Manual Transmission
Trying to copy large databases from one server to multiple remote servers can throw your snapshot replication into low gear. But you can rev up the process by manually customizing the replication's steps.
 — Herts Chen

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[SQL Server Savvy]

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Tip: Beware of Using the QUERYOUT Option with Command-Line Bcp
A bug in bulk copy program (bcp) can cause your system's performance to slow down.
 — Brian Moran


UDF Performance Costs
User-defined functions (UDFs) make reusing logic easy and help simplify complicated SQL statements. But do UDFs have hidden performance costs?
 — Brian Moran


Using CASE to Order a Result Set
Using multiple CASE statements in an ORDER BY clause can help you get the dynamically ordered result set you want.
 — Brian Moran

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[Editorial]

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Get Smart with BI
BI--and the OLAP and data-mining technologies that comprise it--are aimed squarely at delivering strategic business advantages.
 — Michael Otey

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[Reader to Reader]

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Finding Columns for Table Joins
A reader shares the stored procedures he uses when he needs to map an unfamiliar database to find columns to use for joins.
 — Readers

Improving Audit-Field Tracking
A reader shares a method for returning detailed transaction audit information while saving disk space.
 — Readers

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[SQL Seven]

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Top Online Discussion Forums
The Web provides many opportunities for you to exchange ideas with other SQL Server professionals. Here are links to seven of the best online SQL Server discussion groups.
 — Michael Otey

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[Inside SQL Server]

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Tame Bulky Inserts
Bulky inserts got your queries down? Test and test again to find just the right sequence of index creation.
 — Kalen Delaney

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[Mastering Analysis]

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.NET's Seismic Shift
You might not realize it, but the .NET shift is going to be a major seismic event. Use this overview to recognize the shift’s leading indicators and prepare for the changes it will bring.
 — Russ Whitney

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[T-SQL Black Belt]

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Separating Elements
User-defined functions can help when you have to work with denormalized data, but don’t worry if you don’t have SQL Server 2000. You can also create a SQL Server 7.0 solution to this headache.
 — Itzik Ben-Gan

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[Answers from Microsoft]

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Transferring Data Over a Dial-up Connection
Microsoft’s SQL Server Development Team describes two ways to transfer data to remote servers through a dial-up connection.
 — Microsoft's SQL Server Development Team


Using Views to Control User Access to SQL Server Data
Microsoft’s SQL Server Development Team provides views for two scenarios that let a reader control the SQL Server data available to Access users.
 — Microsoft's SQL Server Development Team

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[Exploring XML]

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Overcoming OpenXML Hangups
Before you put OpenXML to work inserting, updating, and deleting data in a real-world application, you need to fix a couple of glitches.
 — Rich Rollman

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[Letters]

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Letters, August 2002
Readers write in to share tips for controlling source through Visual SourceSafe and with a question about creating fiscal calendars in Analysis Services.
 — Various Authors

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[New Products]

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New Products, August 2002
Check out the latest SQL Server-related new and improved products.
 — Carolyn Mader