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POSQL Server features/commands that most developers are unaware of
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  1. POSQL Server features/commands that most developers are unaware of
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    copied!<blockquote> <p><strong>Possible Duplicate:</strong><br> <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/121243/hidden-features-of-sql-server">Hidden Features of SQL Server</a> </p> </blockquote> <p>I've worked as a .NET developer for a while now, but predominantly against a SQL Server database for a little over 3 years now. I feel that I have a fairly decent grasp of SQL Server from a development standpoint, but I ashamed to admit that I just learned today about "WITH TIES" from this answer - <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1236394/top-5-with-most-friends/1236414#1236414">Top 5 with most friends</a>.</p> <p>It is humbling to see questions and answers like this on SO because it helps me realize that I really don't know as much as I think I do and helps re-energize my will to learn more, so I figured what better way than to ask the masses of experts for input on other handy commands/features.</p> <p>What is the most useful feature/command that the average developer is probably unaware of?</p> <p>BTW - if you are like I was and don't know what "WITH TIES" is for, here is a good explanation. You'll see quickly why I was ashamed I was unaware of it. I could see where it could be useful though. - <a href="http://harriyott.com/2007/06/with-ties-sql-server-tip.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://harriyott.com/2007/06/with-ties-sql-server-tip.aspx</a> </p> <p>I realize that this is a subjective question so please allow for at least a few answers before you close it. :) I'll try to edit my question to keep up a list with your response. Thanks</p> <p>[EDIT] - Here is a summary of the responses Please scroll down for more information. Thanks again guys/gals.</p> <ul> <li>MERGE - A single command to INSERT / UPDATE / DELETE into a table from a row source.</li> <li>FILESTREAM feature of SQL Server 2008 allows storage of and efficient access to BLOB data using a combination of SQL Server 2008 and the NTFS file system</li> <li>CAST - get a date without a time portion</li> <li>Group By - I gotta say you should definitely know this already</li> <li>SQL Server Management Studio</li> <li>Transactions</li> <li>The sharing of local scope temp tables between nested procedure calls</li> <li>INSERT INTO</li> <li>MSDN</li> <li>JOINS</li> <li>PIVOT and UNPIVOT</li> <li>WITH(FORCESEEK) - forces the query optimizer to use only an index seek operation as the access path to the data in the table.</li> <li>FOR XML</li> <li>COALESCE</li> <li>How to shrink the database and log files</li> <li>Information_Schema</li> <li>SET IMPLICIT_TRANSACTIONS in Management Studio 2005</li> <li>Derived tables and common table expressions (CTEs)</li> <li>OUTPUT clause - allows access to the "virtual" tables called inserted and deleted (like in triggers)</li> <li>CTRL + 0 to insert null</li> <li>Spacial Data in SQL Server 2008</li> </ul>
 

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