---

[Focus]

---

The 64-Bit Question
Do you need the extra muscle that the 64-bit version of SQL Server 2000 brings to the table? See what's new, what's different, and what's stayed the same in the latest version of SQL server for the enterprise.
 — Michael Otey

---

[Features]

---

The Business Rule Clue
You think you've written a simple query that will return summary data from your SQL Server database, but the query fails! How can you find the reason for the query's unexplained demise? Elementary: Return to the basics of database normalization.
 — Steve Kass


XML Trees: Step by Step
Using SQL Server to return an entire tree in XML format is becoming a common requirement. These step-by-step examples show you how to use T-SQL to retrieve hierarchical XML data.
 — Julian Watson

---

[SQL Server Savvy]

---

EXISTS vs. COUNT(*)
Using an EXISTS check is more efficient than a SELECT COUNT(*) when you need to see if a particular value exists in a table.
 — Brian Moran


Getting Transaction Information from DBCC OPENTRAN
Use the DBCC OPENTRAN command to identify the longest running transaction in your database.
 — Brian Moran


Tracking Uptime
Here's a simply way to determine how long a particular instance of SQL Server has been running.
 — Brian Moran


Working with Trace Filters
Learn how to create a SQL Server Profiler trace that will let you capture queries executed against small subsets of tables in your database.
 — Brian Moran

---

[Editorial]

---

Preparing for Yukon
Yukon will be here before you know it. And nothing would put you in a better position to hit the ground running with the upcoming SQL Server release than to start evaluating when and where to use the new CLR languages in your environment.
 — Michael Otey

---

[SQL Seven]

---

MSDE and SQL Server
A lot of people are confused about the differences between MSDE 2000 and SQL Server 2000, especially about how MSDE differs from SQL Server 2000 Personal Edition. Michael Otey counts seven important ways that MSDE differs from SQL Server 2000.
 — Michael Otey

---

[Inside SQL Server]

---

Memory Myths
Think you know a lot about SQL Server memory? Think again.
 — Kalen Delaney

---

[Mastering Analysis]

---

Rock-Solid MDX
MDX is powerful, but it can be more complex than SQL. You can make MDX's complex queries easier to handle if you break them into smaller parts. Here's a two-part method for making complex MDX manageable.
 — Russ Whitney

---

[T-SQL Black Belt]

---

Partitioning Tips
Here are some tips about using partitioned views, including how to circumvent the limitation on inserting data into tables through a partitioned view, and problems with using constants in the partitioning criteria.
 — Itzik Ben-Gan

---

[Answers from Microsoft]

---

Choosing the Right Defragmentation Method
Do you need to defragment your database but still maintain high availability? Microsoft offers several options for defragmenting tables in SQL Server 2000.
 — Microsoft's SQL Server Development Team


Moving SQL Server 7.0 Databases to SQL Server 2000
SQL Server doesn't rename directories as part of the upgrade process. Here's a renaming problem you might face when upgrading and how to handle it.
 — Microsoft's SQL Server Development Team


Replicating Data in a Franchise Company
Here's a replication tip for ensuring the data that your franchises transfer to your head office is synchronized and includes modifications from each branch.
 — Microsoft's SQL Server Development Team

---

[Exploring XML]

---

"Open" XML Content
Sure, your XML app is running fine now. But what if you need to transmit a new type of data through the same app later? With open content, you don't even need to know it's there.
 — Rich Rollman

---

[Letters]

---

Letters, April 2003
Readers give advice about configuring the Client Access ODBC driver for DTS data transfer between the AS/400 and SQL Server and ask about concurrent security role limits in Analysis Services.
 — Various Authors

---

[New Products]

---

New Products, April 2003
Check out the latest SQL Server-related new and improved products.
 — Carolyn Mader