August 2018, SQL Simantics

SQL Server 2016’s STRING_SPLIT

Randy Sims SQL Server

I found a pretty cool little function as I was perusing the SQL Server functions documentation the other day. (What, doesn’t everyone do that?) I just read the name of this function and thought, well, no need to create that function with a loop any longer! Finally, SPLIT has come to SQL Server! What is […]

SQL Server’s [N]VARCHAR(MAX) and How to Wield It

Randy Sims SQL Server

[N]VARCHAR(MAX) is a data type that was created to replace [N]TEXT. Depending on how many characters you store in this data type, it will react differently to its surroundings. It might be just what you needed or it might be your worst nightmare, so choose wisely. Here’s a run down on this data type.

SQL Server’s CROSS APPLY and how to use it

Randy Sims SQL Server

CROSS APPLY is a beautiful alternative for your FROM clause. It isn’t JOINed to anything but it can be correlated to other fields in your query. It also allows for an aggregate to be run on a row-by-row basis. CROSS APPLY can be very useful, and the following will show you what it is and […]