Cursor-Killing: Retrieving Recently Modified Data

Cursors are considered by many to be the bane of good T-SQL. What are the best ways to avoid iterative T-SQL and to write queries that look and perform beautifully? In the next part of an ongoing series, we look at ways to efficiently retrieve recently modified data.

Create MERGE statements with data!

A script to create MERGE statements with data for specific tables.

Duplicate Detection and Management

Inevitably, every DBA is eventually asked to delete, merge, or otherwise report on duplicate data. There are many tools at our disposal to make this task both simple and efficient to complete. Read on for simple steps and examples to effectively deal with duplicate data.

Template - Type 6 SCD Stored Procedure

Template to create a Type 6 slowly changing dimension stored procedure

Performance of the SQL MERGE vs. INSERT/UPDATE

The SQL MERGE statement offers convenience, safety and elegance, but how does it perform compared to other methods?

Implementing, loading and optimizing a Type 2 Slowly Changing Fact Table

This article shows how to implement a Slowly Changing Facts Table, how to overcome the problems encountered when using the MERGE statement to process the data and suggest a minimal set of indexes to aid data loading and quering.

Managing Slowly Changing Dimension with MERGE Statement in SQL Server

Slowly Changing Dimension (SCD) Transformation is a quick and easy way to manage smaller slowly changing dimensions but it has several limitations and does not perform well when the number of rows or columns gets larger. Arshad Ali explores some of the alternatives you can use for managing larger slowly changing dimensions.

A Hazard of Using the SQL Merge Statement

The SQL MERGE statement can make your DML querying more efficient but you need to take care or you may get burned

Using the SQL Server MERGE Statement to Process Type 2 Slowly Changing Dimensions

The MERGE statement is powerful and multifunctional, yet it can be hard to master. SOmetimes the MERGE statement that just doesn't do what it's needed to do, like process a Type 2 slowly-changing dimension. Check out this tip to learn more.

Merge