LN Technologies

What is T-SQL?

2010-05-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

T-SQL is SQL with extra T prefixed to SQL :) . That says T-SQL means Transactional extensions to SQL. Transactional extensions are like Control-of-flow statements (if, while, break etc..), local variables, utility functions to operate on strings, dates, numbers etc...

These transactional extensions enables the programming abilities.

What is in the name "SQL" ?

2010-05-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

First lets see what is SQL? we all know that SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It does not make much sense in first look. But it says something that it is a language used to query. Yes, it is a language used to query databases. The scope of this language is to query/update data, schema creation/updation and manage databases.

But why is it called "Structured"? Because, this language is written in simple Structured English statements, so it is called Structured Query Language formerly Structure English Query Language.

How to sell IT outside of IT

2010-04-13T00:13:00.000-07:00

How to sell IT outside of IT

James Gosling, founder of Java quit Oracle !!

2010-04-12T03:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, indeed, the rumors are true: I resigned from Oracle a week ago (April 2nd). I apologize to everyone in St Petersburg who came to TechDays on Thursday expecting to hear from me. I really hated not being there. As to why I left, it’s difficult to answer: just about anything I could say that would be accurate and honest would do more harm than good. The hardest part is no longer being with all the great people I’ve had the privilege to work with over the years. I don’t know what I’m going to do next, other than take some time off before I start job hunting.

src- gosling blog

Management rules to win a situation

2009-08-14T01:56:00.000-07:00

Management rules from mahabharatha, which led pandavas to victory.

Turn your weeknesses into strengths.
Turn enemies into allies.
Share your responsibilities.
Team work scores over individual effort.
Right team = Right set of individuals. The right man for the right job.
Commitment scores over competence.
Team interests over individual interests.
Know your enemy/challenges.Exploit its weeknesses. Take calculated risks.
The right managers. To inspire, invigorate, counsel on crisis.
Know ground realities. Accept different ideologies. Cooperate.
Empower women. The gender balance is required for stability and administration.

Good discussion site for programmers !!!

2009-06-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

StackOverFlow

How to clear all caches in SQL server ?

2009-03-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

Hi,

In order to best test the performance of a query, sometimes we may need to clean the buffer cache, before executing query. The follwing command helps to clean the cache.

CHECKPOINT

DBCC DROPCLEANBUFFERS

DBCC FREEPROCCACHE

DBCC FREESESSIONCACHE

DBCC FREESYSTEMCACHE

What is NOEXPAND in SQL?

2009-03-23T07:09:00.001-07:00

Hi,

NOEXPAND tells query optimizer to use indexes on views.

Ex:

select * from INDEXED_TEST_VIEW with (NOEXPAND)

forces sql query optimizer to use indexes on views, with out looking for its underlying tables.

What is HTML ?

2009-03-23T01:01:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Let us see what is in the name HTML. Generally HTML is referred to as Hyper Text Markup Language. But what is this Hyper Text Markup Language? The answer is, it is a Language to describe hyper text using markups. Confused?? To make it clear, let us split the sentense "Language to describe hyper text using markups".

Language -> A set of instructions which computer can understand.

Hyper Text -> Hyper = over / beyond. That is, HyperText is something beyond text. It contains links to other texts, tables, images, etc...

Markup -> Additional information added to text, to describe how the text should be interpreted.

Hope it clears what is HTML.

How to measure time taken by SQL query

2009-03-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Do not use a method of getting difference between StartDate and EndDate. Instead use system provided tools.

Set STATISTICS TIME {ON | OFF}

The above SQL statement displays the time taken by query for execution.

When a query is executed with "Set STATISTICS TIME ON", messages tab contains the following information.

for Ex:

SQL Server Execution Times:

CPU time = 391 ms, elapsed time = 10137 ms.

CPU time is time taken for execution and elaspsed time is total time (CPU time + time taken for IO). IO -> logical, physical reads and read aheads.

Inorder to see all page reads, use "Set STATISTICS IO ON"

Building resource files containing Unicode characters

2009-03-13T03:19:00.000-07:00

Code gear (EmbarCadero) Delphi 2009 supports Unicode character set. cgrc.exe can be used for building resource files containing unicode characters.

Example

c:\> cgrc MyResource.rc

Batch file ABCs

2009-03-13T03:15:00.000-07:00

Good documentation on how to create and use batch files for commonly used tasks.

http://www.computerhope.com/batch.htm#01

Flicker control tips in Delphi applications

2009-03-13T02:41:00.000-07:00

Set DoubleBuffered property to True.
If not using Windows theming, then set Enable Run time themes to false (Project - Options - Application)
Do off canvas painting - (Use temporary bitmap for painting and copy the contents to actual canvas).
When a control's Left and Top needs to be changed, do not set them individually, but use SetBounds method which draws the control only once.
If Scroll box used with out anchors, then remove this line in the ScrollBox part of the units.dfm file Anchors = []
If Panels are not transparent then set the ParentBackground property of all panels to false.
Build the project with following optimizations :

{ Compiler Settings }

{$B-} // Complete Boolean Evaluation Off

{$R-} // Range Checking Off

{$Q-} // Overflow Checking Off

{$V-} // Var String Checking Off

{$T-} // Typed @ operator Off

{$X+} // Extended Syntax On

{$P+} // Open String Params On

{$O+} // Optimization On

{$IFDEF WIN32}

{$H+} // Use long strings by default

{$ENDIF}

{ Assume the latest version of compiler is available }

{$DEFINE COMPILER2009_UP}

{$DEFINE COMPILER2007_UP}

{$DEFINE COMPILER2006_UP}

{$DEFINE COMPILER2005_UP}

{$DEFINE COMPILER7_UP}

{$DEFINE COMPILER6_UP}

{$DEFINE COMPILER5_UP}

{$DEFINE COMPILER4_UP}

{ Then detect if it is older (.NET versions are ignored) }

{$IFDEF VER200} // Delphi 2009

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER185} // Delphi 2007

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER180} // Delphi 2006

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER170} // Delphi 2005

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER150} // Delphi 7

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2005_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER140} // Delphi 6 & C++Builder 6

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2005_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER7_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER130} // Delphi 5 & C++Builder 5

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2005_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER7_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER6_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER130} // Delphi 5 & C++Builder 5

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2005_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER7_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER6_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER125} // C++Builder 4

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2005_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER7_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER6_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER5_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER120} // Delphi 4

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2005_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER7_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER6_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER5_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER110} // C++Builder 3

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2005_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER7_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER6_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER5_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER4_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER100} // Delphi 3

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2005_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER7_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER6_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER5_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER4_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER93} // C++Builder 1

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2005_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER7_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER6_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER5_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER4_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER90} // Delphi 2

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2005_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER7_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER6_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER5_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER4_UP}

{$ENDIF}

{$IFDEF VER80} // Delphi 1

{$UNDEF COMPILER2009_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2007_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2006_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER2005_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER7_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER6_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER5_UP}

{$UNDEF COMPILER4_UP}

{$ENDIF}

How to enumerate local 64 bit SQL Instances from Delphi

2008-04-17T23:03:00.000-07:00

Hi,
In order to access 64-bit registry from 32 bit applications, KEY_WOW64_64KEY is to be used with the RegOpenKeyEx method as shown in the below example.

Delphi Version : 2006
Sql Version : 2005 x64

// Look in registry for version

const
KEY_WOW64_64KEY = $0100;

procedure Fetch64BitInstalledInstances(slInstanceNames: TStringList);
const
  sSQLKey = 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft Sql Server';
  sInstalledInstancesValue = 'InstalledInstances';
var
  key: HKEY;
  p, buffer: PChar;
  valueLen : integer;
begin
  if not Assigned(slInstanceNames) then
   slInstanceNames := TStringList.Create
  else
   slInstanceNames.Clear;
  if RegOpenKeyEx(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,

PChar(sSQLKey),
0,

KEY_QUERY_VALUE or KEY_WOW64_64KEY,

   key) = ERROR_SUCCESS then
  begin
   GetMem(buffer, valueLen);
   try
   RegQueryValueEx(key,

   PChar(sInstalledInstancesValue),
   nil,
   nil,
   PBYTE(buffer),
   @valueLen);
   p := buffer;
   while (p^ <> #0) do
   begin
   slInstanceNames.Add(p);
   Inc(p, lstrlen(p) + 1)
   end
   finally
   FreeMem(buffer)
   end
  end;
end;

Golden Rules for Career Success

2008-02-11T21:41:00.000-08:00

Business is made up of ambiguous victories and nebulous defeats. Claim them all as victories.
Keep track of what you do; someone is sure to ask.
Be comfortable around senior managers, or learn to fake it.
Never bring your boss a problem without some solution. You are getting paid to think, not to whine.
Long hours don’t mean anything; results count, not effort.
Write down ideas; they get lost, like good pens.
Always arrive at work 30 minutes before your boss.
Help other people network for jobs. You never know
when your turn will come.
Don’t take days off sick—unless you are.
Assume no one can/will keep a secret.
Know when you do your best—morning, night, under
pressure, relaxed; schedule and prioritize your
work accordingly.
Treat everyone who works in the organization with
respect and dignity, whether it be the cleaner or the
managing director.
Don’t ever be patronizing.
Never appear stressed in front of a client, a customer
or your boss. Take a deep breath and ask yourself: In
the course of human events, how important is this?
If you get the entrepreneurial urge, visit someone
who has his own business. It may cure you.
Acknowledging someone else’s contribution will
repay you doubly.
Career planning is an oxymoron. The most exciting
opportunities tend to be unplanned.
Always choose to do what you’ll remember ten years
from now.
The size of your office is not as important as the size
of your pay cheque.
Understand what finished work looks like and deliver
your work only when it is finished.
The person who spends all of his or her time is not
hard-working; he or she is boring.
Know how to write business letters—including
thank-you notes as well as proposals.
Never confuse a memo with reality. Most memos
from the top are political fantasy.
Eliminate guilt.
Don’t fiddle expenses, taxes or
benefits, and don’t cheat colleagues.
Reorganizations mean that someone will lose his or
her job. Get on the committee that will make the
recommendations.
Job security does not exist.
Always have an answer to the question, “What
would I do if I lost my job tomorrow?”
Go to the company Christmas party.
Don’t get drunk at the company Christmas party.
Avoid working at weekends. Work longer during the
week if you have to.
The most successful people in business are interesting.
Sometimes you’ll be on a winning streak and everything
will click; take maximum advantage. When
the opposite is true, hold steady and wait it out.
Never in your life say, “It’s not my job.”
Be loyal to your career, your interests and yourself.
Understand the skills and abilities that set you apart.
Use them whenever you have an opportunity.
People remember the end of the project. As they say
in boxing, “Always finish stronger than you start.”

References: Richard Moran.