5 Ways to Return UNIQUE Constraints in SQL Server

Posted on by Ian

In SQL Server, we can use UNIQUE constraints to ensure that a column (or columns) contain only unique values. When we have a UNIQUE constraint against a column, the system will prevent any duplicate values are entered into that column.

Sometimes we need to return a list of UNIQUE constraints, so that we simply know what we’re working with. Other times we might want to create scripts for all of our UNIQUE constraints so that we can recreate the constraints later.

Regardless of the reason, here are five methods for returning UNIQUE constraints in a SQL Server database.

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Possible Reason for Error 1914 “object is not a user table or view” in SQL Server

Posted on by Ian

If you’re getting an error that reads something like “Index cannot be created on object ‘Customers’ because the object is not a user table or view” it could be that you’re trying to create an index, but there’s also a synonym of the same name (but in a different schema). It would appear that SQL Server thinks that you’re trying to create the index on the synonym instead of the table or view of the same name.

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Understanding the BREAK Keyword in SQL Server WHILE Loops

Posted on by Ian

WHILE loops are a powerful feature in most programming languages that allow developers to execute a block of code repeatedly as long as a specified condition is true. However, there are times when we may need to exit a loop prematurely based on certain criteria. SQL Server caters for this possibility with the BREAK keyword.

In this article, we’ll explore how to effectively use the BREAK keyword within WHILE loops in SQL Server.

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Using the VARIADIC Keyword with the FORMAT() Function in PostgreSQL

Posted on by Ian

When we use the format() function in PostgreSQL, we can pass any number of strings to insert into the resulting formatted string in positions that are specified in the first argument. When we do this, we might typically pass the strings as separate arguments. But this isn’t the only way to do it.

We have the option of passing the strings as array elements. That is, we can pass an array to the function, and have it extract each array element as though it’s a separate argument to insert into the formatted string.

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Fix Error 156 “Incorrect syntax near the keyword ‘OR'” in SQL Server When Creating a Filtered Index

Posted on by Ian

If you’re getting an error that reads something like “Incorrect syntax near the keyword ‘OR’” when creating a filtered index in SQL Server, it’s probably because you’re using the OR operator in your WHERE clause.

Filtered indexes don’t support the OR operator.

However, filtered indexes do support the IN operator, and so it’s possible to change your query to use that.

So to fix this issue, try the IN operator instead.

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What is a Clustered Index in SQL Server?

Posted on by Ian

There are around a dozen types of index in SQL Server, but the most commonly used index type would have to be the clustered index. By default, a clustered index is automatically created when we create a primary key, and so if your tables have primary keys, then there’s a pretty good chance you’ve got clustered indexes all over your database.

But what exactly is a clustered index?

Let’s delve into what a clustered index is, how it works, its relationship with primary keys, and why it’s so important for our database performance.

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What is a Nonclustered Index in SQL Server?

Posted on by Ian

We’ll often hear SQL Server developers talk about adding indexes to a table to improve the performance of some of the more heavily run queries. Such queries could be quite complex, and/or search through large tables, perhaps with lots of joins, and generally take a long time to complete.

But it’s not just a matter of saying “add an index” and being done with it. We need to decide how to design the index, and even before that, what type of index to add.

Two of the most commonly used index types in SQL Server are the clustered index and the nonclustered index.

In this article, we’ll explore what a nonclustered index is, how it works, and when we should use it to enhance our database performance.

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