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[Features]

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Betting on 64-Bit
Although SQL Server 2000 (64-bit) has been available for 2 years, few organizations have been willing to put their money on it. Here are three scenarios that demonstrate that betting on 64-bit SQL Server can pay off--both now and in the long run.
 — Douglas McDowell


Create Your Own Code Library
ADO.NET developers often use T-SQL strings to retrieve data for applications, but poorly written strings can lead to errors. By learning a few techniques, you can provide developers with a code library to use for many common data-access tasks.
 — Rick Dobson


Drillthrough on the Fly
Drillthrough lets you look at the individual records in a cube, but you can't modify a drillthrough query on the fly. You can create a drillthrough report, then use a cell-level action to call the report and pass the parameters.
 — Craig Utley

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[SQL Server Savvy]

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Estimated Row Counts Affect Performance
The estimated number of row counts is incredibly important when Query Analyzer is choosing an execution plan.
 — Brian Moran

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[Editorial]

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Freedom to Choose
Unlike the other enterprise database vendors, Microsoft and SQL Server aren't tied to any of the popular enterprise ERP products--and that's good news for customers.
 — Michael Otey

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[Inside SQL Server]

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Something About Sysindexes
When you learn what information the sysindexes table has to offer, you'll be better able to work with your indexes and tables.
 — Kalen Delaney

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[T-SQL Black Belt]

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T-SQL Tiebreakers
Tiebreakers can make the difference between generally correct results and exactly the answer you need.
 — Itzik Ben-Gan

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[New Products]

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New Products, April 2005
Check out new and improved SQL Server-related products.
 — Dawn Cyr

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[SELECT TOP(X)]

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SQL Server Downloads
The bulk of Microsoft's SQL Server downloads aren't found on the SQL Server home page, but on the less specific downloads page. Here are the five most interesting SQL Server-related downloads available from Microsoft.
 — Michael Otey

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[Preparing for SQL Server 2005]

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Back to SQL Server's Future
SQL Server Senior Product Manager Matt Nunn reviews database evolution to help us understand the revolutionary nature of the new SQL Server 2005 features that make the database server an integral component of application architecture.
 — Matt Nunn

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[Ask Microsoft]

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Differential Backups Protect and Simplify
Microsoft's Patrick Conlan explains how differential backups fit into a reader's restore scenario.
 — Microsoft's SQL Server Development Team


SP3 Changes Debugging Functionality
Microsoft's Gert Drapers explains why a reader might be experiencing problems trying to debug T-SQL stored procedures.
 — Microsoft's SQL Server Development Team

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[Hands On]

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Tools Boost Confidence
A reader highlights his favorite products: Red Gate SQL Compare and SQL Data Compare.
 — Dawn Cyr